Bayern Munich are unbeaten in the Bundesliga this season, but they still find themselves third in the table, behind leaders Borussia Dortmund and second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, albeit on goal difference.
Bayern comfortable beat Nuremberg 2-0 today. Franck Ribery’s header in the 69th minute broke the deadlock before Arjen Robben wrapped up all three points with a winner in the 78th minute.
Schalke, who need to win at Greece’s PAOK on Tuesday to progress to the Champions League group stages after drawing 1-1 in Wednesday’s play-off first-leg, suffered another confidence-sapping defeat as they lost 2-1 at Hannover.
Schalke had defender Benedikt Hoewedes sent off on 14 minutes for bringing down Hannover striker Mame Diouf with only the goalkeeper to beat, and Hungary midfielder Szabolcs Huszti drilled home the penalty.
Diouf then headed home three minutes from the break to leave Schalke reeling before striker Adam Szalai pulled one back for Schalke in the second-half.
Having also been hammered 4-0 at Wolfsburg last Saturday, Schalke have just one point from their first three games, leaking nine goals and scoring four, leaving them 14th in the table.
Another defeat at PAOK could leave coach Jens Keller looking for a new job, and it is not even September!
Leverkusen earned their third straight win with a 4-2 victory at home to Borussia Monchengladbach with Germany midfielder Sidney Sam scoring twice in front of national coach Joachim Low.
Mainz are the fourth team to maintain a 100 per cent record after they enjoyed a 2-0 win at home to Wolfsburg, who had new-signing Luiz Gustavo sent off for a second yellow card on just his second appearance since signing from Bayern.
Hoffenheim were held to a 3-3 draw at home by Freiburg in an action-packed game which saw each side finish with ten men and Freiburg coach Christian Streich was banished to the stands.
Hertha Berlin extended their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season to three games with a 1-0 win at home to strugglers Hamburg.