Story highlights
Borussia Moenchengladbach top Germany's Bundesliga
Moenchengladbach hit summit after 3-0 win at Cologne
Champions Dortmund or Bayern Munich can overtake them at weekend
Udinese go top of Serie A with 2-0 win over AS Roma
Borussia Monchengladbach hit the top of Germany’s Bundesliga with a superb 3-0 win Friday at local rivals FC Cologne.
The visitors only narrowly avoided relegation from the top-flight in a playoff last season, but are mounting a strong challenge for the title this term.
Two goals from Mike Hanke and a further effort from Venezualan Jorge Arango gave Monchengladbach their ninth win of the campaign and fourth in a row.
It left them on 29 points from 14 games, one clear of Bayern Munich who play Sunday at Mainz.
Reigning champions Borussia Dortmund can also overtake them with a home win over fourth-placed Schalke Saturday.
But for Monchengladbach, it was a continuation of the form they showed in the 5-0 rout of Werder Bremen last weekend.
Hanke scored with a low shot in the 20th minute before Arango doubled the advantage with a curling free kick on the half hour mark.
Hanke added the third just after the break as he beat Michael Rensing from close range after the home goalkeeper had parried a Patrick Herrmann shot.
Bayern, who secured their passage to the last 16 of the Champions League in midweek with a 3-1 home win over Villarreal, have set the pace for much of the Bundesliga season, but have taken just one point from their last two league games.
In Italy’s Serie A, Udinese beat AS Roma 2-0 Friday night to also take over at the top ahead of the weekend fixtures.
Antonio Di Natale, with his ninth goal of the season, and Maurizio Isla scored late goals to seal the three points.
Chasing teams Lazio and Juventus face off Saturday, both two points behind.
Juve, who have a game in hand, are placed second on goal difference going into the clash.
