Bayern Munich stayed top of the German league on Saturday as Mario Gomez claimed his 17th goal of the season in a 2-0 win over Wolfsburg, but Borussia Dortmund and Schalke are both hard on their heels.

Japan winger Shinji Kagawa scored twice in Dortmund’s 3-1 win over Hoffenheim, while Schalke’s 4-1 win at Cologne means there is a three-way tie with Dortmund, Schalke and Bayern on 40 points.

Munich stay top by virtue of a superior goal difference.

Germany striker Gomez has now scored 17 goals in 18 league games this season, as Bayern bounced back from their shock 3-1 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach with a win over Wolves.

The 26-year-old fired home at Munich’s Allianz Arena with an hour on the clock after France winger Franck Ribery was fouled and Gomez converted a free-kick from Germany team-mate Toni Kroos.

Dutch winger Arjen Robben added Bayern’s second in the 92nd minute when the ball went in off his stomach after a lob from Croatia striker Ivica Olic.

“We had good chances in the first half, but we didn’t take them,” said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes.

“This time, we had the luck and the ability to take the lead through a set-piece. In terms of our scoring chances and the way we played, the win was deserved.”

Dortmund stay second after their home win over Hoffenheim, with Kagawa in dazzling form for the hosts.

The champions suffered bad news in mid-week when it was revealed teenage midfield star Mario Goetze will be out for up to eight weeks with a groin injury.

But Kagawa teamed up with Kevin Grosskreutz to compensate and the Japan star put Dortmund ahead after just 16 minutes before Grosskreutz slotted home the hosts’ second after 31 minutes.

The pair then combined for the stunning third goal, when a crisp back-heel from Grosskreutz fell into Kagawa’s path and he fired home from close range on 55 minutes.

USA defender Fabian Johnson scored a 63rd-minute consolation for Hoffenheim, but it was too little, too late.

Schalke came from behind to record a 4-1 win at 10-man Cologne to stay third after Germany striker Lukas Podolski gave the hosts an early lead.

The Royal Blues got back in the game when Romanian striker Ciprian Marica netted with headers on 60 and 72 minutes.

Cologne’s problems were compounded when defender Miso Brecko was sent off for fouling Schalke’s Julian Draxler in the area and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar netted the penalty on 78 minutes.

Midfielder Marco Hoeger completed the rout with a late strike to claim Schalke’s fifth straight league win.

At the other end of the table, bottom side Augsburg were held to a 2-2 draw at home to fellow relegation contenders Kaiserslautern, who remain third from bottom.

Hamburg bounced back from last weekend’s hammering at home to Dortmund with a 2-1 win at Hertha Berlin in the capital city.

Werder Bremen stay fifth and Bayer Leverkusen sixth after they drew 1-1 in Bremen.

Fourth-placed Gladbach need to win at VfB Stuttgart on Sunday to stay in touch with the leaders.