Bayer Leverkusen had their first win of the season on Sunday as Czech midfielder Michal Kadlec's late goal sealed a 1-0 win at home to Werder Bremen. Last season's German league runners-up have had a torrid time of late, throwing away a 3-0 lead at second division Dynamo Dresden two weeks ago in the German Cup to suffer a 4-3 defeat. They were then beaten 2-0 at Mainz last weekend in the opening weekend of the Bundesliga season.
To add injury to insult, goalkeeper Fabian Giefer, who was filling in for injured Germany shot-stopper Rene Adler, was so badly concussed at Mainz that he suffered a complete memory blank. Leverkusen coach Robin Dutt was forced to bring in teenage goalkeeper Bernd Leno from VfB Stuttgart as emergency cover, and the 19-year-old stood up to the task before Kadlec's 85th-minute winner gave his side victory.
Earlier, newly-promoted Augsburg drew 1-1 at Kaiserslautern to pick up their second draw of the season after Israel's Itay Shechter grabbed a late equaliser for the hosts. Augsburg raced into an early lead as striker Sascha Moelders scored his third goal in just two games after nine minutes, but Kaiserslautern shared the points when Shechter broke through the defence on 80 minutes to level.
On Saturday, defending champions Borussia Dortmund crashed to a 1-0 defeat at Hoffenheim. Hoffenheim poached an early lead when Bosnia striker Sejad Salihovic curled in a free-kick after just nine minutes to stun Dortmund.
Having been shocked at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach last weekend, Bayern München picked up their first win as Brazil midfielder Luiz Gustavo scored in the 91st minute at 2009 champions VfL Wolfsburg. French play-maker Franck Ribery provided the final pass and Gustavo drilled his shot into the top left-hand corner to break Wolves' hearts.
Schalke rolled over 1. FC Köln with a 5-1 (1-1). After being down 0-1, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (3), Raul and Lewis Holtby scored the home team in an impressive second half.
Hannover and Mainz at top of standings
Meanwhile, Hannover 96 and FSV Mainz 05 got the second win in as many games. Hannover held on to a 2-1 (2-0) at Nürnberg and Mainz won 2-1 (0-0) in Freiburg.
Hamburg missed its first win of the season with a 2-2 (1-1) tie against Hertha BSC Berlin. In the final match on saturday, Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfB Stuttgart played in a 1-1 (0-0) tie.
The matches on Saturday (3.30 pm cet):
Schalke 04 - 1. FC Köln 5-1 (1-1)
Hamburger SV - Hertha BSC Berlin 2-2 (1-1)
1. FC Nuernberg - Hannover 96 1-2 (0-2)
SC Freiburg - FSV Mainz 05 1-2 (0-0)
1899 Hoffenheim - Borussia Dortmund 1-0 (1-0)
VfL Wolfsburg - Bayern Muenchen 0-1 (0-0)
The match on Saturday (6.30 pm cet):
Borussia Moenchengladbach - VfB Stuttgart 1-1 (0-0)
The match on Sunday (3.30 pm cet):
1. FC Kaiserslautern - FC Augsburg 1:1 (0:1)
The match on Sunday (5.30 pm cet):
Bayer Leverkusen – Werder Bremen 1-0 (0-0)
