Schalke moved to the top of the Bundesliga on goal
difference after promoted Hoffenheim crashed to a first defeat of the season on
Saturday.
A Heiko Westermann header in the first half gave Schalke a 1-0 win over VfL
Bochum as the Blues bounced back from a 4-0 thrashing at Atletico Madrid in the
Champions League's last qualifying stage on Wednesday.
Schalke are level on 7 points with SV Hamburg, who came from two goals down for
a 4-2 win at Arminia Bielefeld, and Borussia Dortmund, who earned a 1-0 win at
Energie Cottbus.
Hoffenheim, who had won their two opening games, suffered a 5-2 defeat at Bayer
Leverkusen, while Borussia Moenchengladback earned their first points of the
season with a 3-2 victory over Werder Bremen.
Wolfsburg had to be content with a 2-2 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Schalke were full value for the win over Bochum who had Christian Fuchs sent
off in the last minute following a second booking.
Defender Westermann was played in a midfield role and settled the game when he
got on the end of a Rafinha cross to head home in the 36th minute.
Schalke coach Fred Rutten said the team had recovered well from the defeat in
Madrid.
"We had one or two scenes when we should have gone in front, but then scored
with a very good move from the back. In the second half we should have shut the
door on the game."
Leverkusen were soon in charge against Hoffenheim thanks to headers from Karim
Haggui and Manuel Friedrich. Stefan Kiessling notched a third before the break
after Vedad Ibisevic had headed the visitors back in the game for his fourth of
the season.
Hoffenheim fought back when Sejad Salihovic converted a penalty after the
interval, but Tranquillo Barnetta blasted a fourth for the home side and Kiessling
struck again to wrap up the points.
As in their opening game of the season at Bayern Munich, SV Hamburg battled
back from a two-goal deficit, with goals each side of the break from defender
Bastian Reinhardt.
But unlike the 2-2 draw in Munich, Hamburg - with new signing Marcell Jansen
making his debut - went on to capture victory courtesy of goals from Croatia
striker Ivica Olic (64) and David Jarolim (77).
Artur Wichniarek had early notched his fourth of the season with a surging run
and shot following an early goal from Zambia striker Christopher Katongo.
Borussia Moenchengladback earned their first points of the season with a 3-2
defeat of disappointing Werder Bremen.
Brazil midfielder Diego was back in the Bremen side following the Olympics but
the visitors were chasing the game after Karim Matmour scored in the 12th and
Rob Friend headed a second on the half hour.
The home side made it three in the 74th with a solo effort from Alexander
Baumjohann which will be a candidate for goal of the season.
The 21-year-old midfielder collected the ball in his own half and left three
Werder players trailing before finishing with a shot past Tim Wiese in goal.
Bremen hit back five minutes later when Claudio Pizarro scored from close range
for his first goal since rejoining the club from Chelsea, and Diego curled a
free-kick into the net in the 89th minute, but the fightback came too late.
Dortmund left Cottbus still looking for a first victory when Neven Subotic hit
the only goal just before half-time, to leave the east German club propping up
the table.
Wolfsburg came back from an Ioannis Amanatadis goal to lead 2-1 against
visiting Frankfurt thanks to a Grafite penalty and a goal from Ashkan Dejagah,
but Faton Toski rescued a point for the visitors six minutes from time.
Hertha Berlin could go top of the table with a two-goal win and at least three
goals on Sunday at defending champions Bayern Munich, who are still looking for
a first league victory.
A 2-0 win for Hertha would put them joint top with Schalke with the same goals
scored and conceded.
In Sunday's other game, VfB Stuttgart entertain Hanover. On Friday, promoted
Cologne earned a first league win of the season with a 2-0 victory at Karlsruhe,
dpa reported.
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