Bundesliga wrap: Perfect Bayern march on

6 October 2012 17:47

Bayern Munich have continued their perfect start to the Bundesliga season, with a Franck Ribery brace powering their 2-0 win over Hoffenheim.

Bayern were looking to bounce back from their shock Champions League defeat to BATE and they made a positive start in front of their home supporters at Allianz Arena on Saturday, with Ribery giving them the lead 19 minutes in.

The France international latched on to an assist from Thomas Mueller and fired past Koen Casteels in the Hoffenheim goal, much to the delight of the Bayern faithful.

That was where the score stayed at the break, but three minutes into the second half Ribery scored his second as Bayern made it seven wins from their opening seven league games of the season.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Schalke continued their strong start to the campaign with a 3-0 home win over Wolfsburg.

Jefferson Farfan gave the hosts the lead just after the half-hour mark, and second-half goals from Ibrahim Afellay and Roman Neustaedter wrapped up a comfortable victory for Huub Stevens' side.

The win sees Schalke move to third on the table, seven points behind leaders Bayern, although Borussia Dortmund could reclaim third spot with a win over Hannover on Sunday.

Freiburg ran out 3-0 victors at home over Nuremberg, although they had to wait until stoppage time to score the final two goals of the game.

Cedric Makiadi put Freiburg ahead in the 36th minute, but their second goal came in the 92nd minute of the match when Daniel Caligiuri converted a penalty, and a minute later Marco Terrazzino made it 3-0.

Mainz had an 85th-minute goal from Nikolce Noveski to thank for their 1-0 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf, whose cause was not helped when Oliver Fink was dismissed on 78 minutes for a second bookable offence.

And Hamburg enjoyed a 1-0 away win over Greuther Fuerth, with Korean winger Son Hueng-min scoring the only goal of the game in the 17th minute.

Heynckes demands better from Bayern

6 October 2012 12:32

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes has demanded a response from his team after their shock defeat against BATE Borisov.

The German giants were surprisingly beaten 3-1 by the Borisov side in Tuesday's Champions League encounter.

Heynckes is determined for his team to put the loss behind them when they take on Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

"We need to get back to winning ways and replicate the things that made us strong," Heynckes said.

"My players know what was lacking against BATE. We have to improve our pressing game and switching between defence and attack. I'm confident the team will do just that."

Heynckes is wary of the threat posed by an improving Hoffenheim side, who have collected seven points from their past three league outings.

"Hoffenheim have recovered their confidence and poise," he said.

"They get the ball forward very quickly from defence, and on top of all that, they have some very good players."

Rummenigge calls for Bayern response

6 October 2012 07:06

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says his side must bounce back from their shock 3-1 defeat at BATE Borisov.

Jupp Heynckes' team had been victorious in nine consecutive games in all competitions prior to Tuesday's Champions League clash.

Rummenigge believes Bayern's Bundesliga clash against Hoffenheim on Saturday can provide the perfect opportunity for his team to get back to winning ways.

"I think it's crucial that we don't allow this defeat to throw us off course," the former West Germany international told Bundesliga.com.

"It's important that we respond immediately against Hoffenheim on Saturday, go full throttle once again and show our Bundesliga rivals that Bayern may have lost, but we aren't down and out."

Bayern coach Heynckes could be set to welcome back David Alaba at the Allianz Arena, but star wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are injured and doubtful, respectively, through injury.

Goalkeeper Tom Starke, meanwhile, warned the 22-time Bundesliga champions against underestimating his former side.

"They made a poor start, but they've begun to recover with seven points from the last three matches, which is a good effort," the 31-year-old said.

Hoffenheim coach Markus Babbel said he hoped his side would continue their progress.

"It's important that we continue along our current path," he said.

"Confidence and hope is the over-riding factor. We've got to go about our daily routine somehow."

Bundesliga preview: Dortmund, Bayern look to bounce back

4 October 2012 12:10

Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich must overcome differing levels of Champions League disappointment in round seven of the Bundesliga.

Reigning champions Dortmund conceded a late equaliser in their trip to Manchester City, while Bayern were stunned 3-1 in Belarus by BATE Borisov.

While disappointed with letting City salvage a draw on Wednesday, Dortmund head coach Juergen Klopp was pleased with his team's improved defensive performance.

Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic were impressive in central defence, while Felipe Santana did a decent job when the former was subbed off.

But Dortmund's defensive structure remains a work in progress, with the defending Bundesliga champions having managed only four clean sheets in ten matches across all competitions this season.

Dortmund will face a stern test of their defensive prowess on Sunday when they travel to Hannover, who are the third-highest scorers in the Bundesliga with 14 goals from six games.

Eintracht Frankfurt, who have stunned all in Germany with five wins in six games since promotion to sit second on the Bundesliga table, will visit Borussia Moenchengladbach in one of the other Sunday games, while Stuttgart host Bayer Leverkusen.

Bayern have started the Bundesliga season with six wins from as many matches but were very wasteful against BATE on Tuesday in the Champions League in a disappointing performance by the Munich-based club.

That shock result does not bode well for Hoffenheim, who travel to Munich on Saturday to play Bayern, as the hosts should be very keen to get back to their winning formula.

Bayern had 62 percent possession and 16 shots against BATE but only managed one goal and having averaged over three goals per game in the Bundesliga so far this season, Hoffenheim goalkeeper Koen Casteels should be a busy man at the Allianz Arena.

In other matches on Saturday, Mainz host Fortuna Duesseldorf, Freiburg take on Nuremberg, Schalke play Wolfsburg and Greuther Fuerth are up against Hamburg.

Round seven of the Bundesliga will start on Friday with Augsburg versus Werder Bremen.