Week 1: Review

Stuttgart 2 - 2 Schalke

VS: Khedira (63) Pardo (pen 67)
04: Kobiashvili (25) Rakitic (76)

An affair that lived up the hype, this draw between last year’s top two saw Schalke take a lead in the 25^th when Kobiashvili fired in a shot from the top of the box. Sami Khedira, who was just called up to the National team for the first time this week, leveled the game in the 63^rd, when a clumsy Bordon tackle left him free in the box. Minutes later Manuel Neuer saved a blinding shot from Cacau. He then tried to clean up the ball but got caught out too far where he hacked down Ciprian Marica, which led to a penalty. Wunderkind Ivan Rakitic leveled the game for the visitors when he came on as a substitute and created a chance for himself as he ran at the Stuttgart defense. He finished off the play with a low shot to the left and Schalke have a moment to build upon as they try to erase years of last moment frustrations.

Bayern Munich 3 - 0 Hansa Rostock

M: Toni (14) Klose (66, 85)

Luca Toni marked his fist game and first shot in the Bundesliga with a goal. Meanwhile, Franck Ribery marked his first game with a superb performance leading the charge on Rostock’s helpless keeper. But it wasn’t just about those two newcomers, as everyone was involved in the attack with Altintop, Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Janssen, Van Bommel and Ze Roberto providing spectacular moments. Klose finished off the game with two late goals.

Bayer Leverkusen 0 - 0 Energie Cottbus

Cottbus’ offensive woes continue. They only scored 38 goals last season and 25 of those came from the Romanian pair Radu and Munteanu who left for Wolfsburg. Leverkusen commanded the run of play from start to finish but couldn’t finish their chances. New signing Theofanis Gekas, the leading scorer in the Bundesliga last year, was unable to open his account as goalkeeper Tomislav Piplica was the one bright spot for Cottbus.

Bochum 2 - 2 Werder Bremen

B: Sestak (47) Bechmann (49)
WB: Diego (pen 39) Sanogo (45)

Bremen’s pre-season twin problems of poor performances and injuries saw them throw away a 2-0 lead. Without Torsten Frings, Dusko Tosic, Carlos Alberto and Frank Baumann, they struck a first half lead when Diego converted off a penalty, which was give when goalkeeper Lastuvka kicked Sanogo. Sanogo scored six minutes later marking a solid first game. Trainer Marcel Koller must have seen something, because Bochum came out in the second half attacking down Bremen’s left flank and scored two goals within four minutes of the break to level the affair.

Hannover 96 0 - 1 Hamburg

HSV: Benjamin (23)

The two Dutch maestros, Van der Vaart for Hamburg and Bruggink for Hannover, looked flat and the game looked rather tepid as a result. Hamburg were happy to record the win on the opening day, since it took them eight games to record their first last year. The only goal came when newcomer Romeo Castelan chested down a cross to Benjamin, who finished with authority.

Frankfurt 1 - 0 Hertha Berlin

F: Amanatidis (31)

Frankfurt attacked down the wings and dominated the first 30 minutes of the game, finally capitalizing on their play when new captain Ioannis Amanatidis slotted home the only goal of the contest. The second half was a lackluster affair with Hertha having some chances through new signing Lucio, but the contest never seemed in doubt.

Wolfsburg 1 - 3 Bielefeld

W: Radu (84)
B: Wichniarek (38) Eigler (51) Kirch (80)

Bielefeld took advantage of a poor performance by the backline of Wolfsburg, who looked to have massive communications problems to post a 3-1 win at the Volkswagen Stadium. Jorg Bohme set up two goals, while Kirch cleaned up a Zuma attempt to put the game beyond reach.

Nurnberg 0 - 2 Karlsruhe
K: Hajnal (44, 74)

Tamás Hajnal adapted well, cleaning up two errors by the Nurnberg defense to shock last year’s cup winner; however, it was Michael Mutzel who controlled the attack for Karlsruhe. The MOM was undoubtedly goalkeeper Markus Miller who stifled Nurnberg, who dominated possession.

Dortmund 1 - 3 Duisburg

BVB: Kringe (86)
D: Ishiaku (8, 64) Tararache (pen 62)

Duisburg started the season with the biggest upset of the weekend. The newly promoted club went to Dortmund and won their first game at the German powerhouse is 30 years, bashing BVB 3-1. Nigerian Ishiaku scored twice on a shaky Dortmund defense that will need to be concern number one for Thomas Doll.