Four in a row for Leverkusen

Stefan Kiessling's first-half goal secured three points for Bayer Leverkusen against Nurnberg on Saturday afternoon.

Bayer Leverkusen remained the closest challengers to Bayern Munich at the Bundesliga summit after Stefan Kiessling's first-half goal secured three points against Nurnberg on Saturday afternoon. Kiessling scored the only goal of the match in the 37th minute as Leverkusen picked up their fourth win in a row - and sixth in their last seven games - to move onto 30 points. Nurnberg, who had picked up points in four of their last five matches, remained in the lower echelons on 16 points. The visitors passed up two chances to take the lead in the first half-hour at the BayArena. First Timo Gebhart fired just over the bar in the 28th minute after playing a neat one-two with Hiroshi Kiyotake, and then two minutes later Sebastian Polter headed a cross from the right against the underside of the bar with Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno able to pick up the pieces. Leverkusen showed Nurnberg how it was done in front of goal eight minutes before the interval. Andre Schurrle fed Kiessling, who turned and then struck his shot past Nurnberg keeper Raphael Schafer. The away team had two more chances shortly after the break but Mike Frantz shot over the bar in the 50th minute and Polter headed over a minute later. Leverkusen could have put the result beyond doubt in the 82nd minute, but Schafer made a superb save from Simon Rolfes' effort. The hosts went close one more time three minutes later but Rolfes' blasted cannoned off the right post.