With German Chancellor Angela Merkel watching in the stands, defending champions Borussia Dortmund enjoyed a convincing 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday to go third in the Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich stay top of the league after their 3-1 home win over Mainz, but Dortmund moved up the table from sixth after they saw off Leverkusen at Borussia's sold-out Signal Iduna Park.
Dortmund took the lead after Germany defender Mats Hummels headed home on 29 minutes from a corner, then Poland captain Jakub Blaszczykowski made it 2-0 for the hosts at the break with crisp strike on 39 minutes.
Compatriot Robert Lewandowski added the third on 78 minutes with a header to cheer the chancellor, who is backing a nationwide scheme "Go Your Own Way" to encourage more integration in football.
Bayern stay top having raced into a 2-0 lead at Munich's Allianz Arena as Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic bagged his fifth goal in four games before midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger made it 2-0 after ten minutes with a header.
Mainz pulled a goal back when midfielder Adam Szalai converted a 59th-minute penalty, but Germany midfielder Toni Kroos made sure of the three points for Bayern with a goal in the 92nd minute.
Munich won without Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben after they both picked up thigh injuries in the final training session, while new signing Javier Martinez only came off the bench for the final 15 minutes.
Hanover are second in the table after a dramatic 3-2 win over Werder Bremen at home in the north German derby with midfielder Szabolcs Huszti scoring the winner in the 92nd minute.
It was the Hungarians second of the game and his enthusiastic, shirtless celebrations earned him two yellow cards in quick succession as he finished the match being sent off, seconds before the final whistle.
Japan midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake is making a name for himself in Nuremberg after scoring a 55nd-minute winner in his team's 3-2 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach to put his team fourth.
Kiyotake set up both of Nuremberg's goals by Timm Klose and Timmy Simons as the guests took a 2-0 lead before Gladbach's Dutch striker Luuk de Jong and Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka scored to level for the hosts.
Stuttgart were held to a goalless draw at home to Fortuna Duesseldorf while Schalke 04 have the chance to get back amongst the league leaders when they play at Greuther Fuerth on Saturday night.
On Friday, Wolfsburg were held to a goalless draw by Augsburg, while on Sunday Eintracht Frankfurt host Hamburg and Freiburg are home to Hoffenheim.
Source: AFP
