German league champs Dortmund crash at Hoffenheim

13 August 2011 17:00

Defending champions Borussia Dortmund were brought crashing to earth on Saturday when they went down 1-0 at Hoffenheim during the second weekend of the new German league season.

The hosts poached an early lead when Bosnia striker Sejad Salihovic curled in a free-kick after just nine minutes to shock Dortmund and the champions' attack had a rare off-day as they failed to impose themselves on a determined defence.

Dortmund's rising Germany star Mario Goetze, who orchestrated his country's 3-2 friendly win over Brazil in mid-week, had a quiet game for the champions as he was taken off by coach Jurgen Klopp on 54 minutes.

Having beaten Hamburg 3-1 on the first game of the new season, Dortmund showed none of the self-assurance they had oozed only a week ago.

Klopp re-shuffled his attacking midfield with three second-half changes, but the guests could not get the equaliser they craved and lost for the first time this season.

Having been shocked at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach last Sunday, Bayern picked up their first league win as Brazil midfielder Luiz Gustavo scored in the 91st minute at 2009 champions VfL Wolfsburg.

French play-maker Franck Ribery provided the final pass and Gustavo drilled his shot into the top left-hand corner to break Wolves' hearts.

Bayern were at near full strength, although Dutch winger Arjen Robben was missing because of a back and adductor problem having failed a fitness test on Friday.

This was not an impressive display from Bayern and Wolfsburg put the ball in the Munich net in the first half thanks to a header from ex-Germany striker Patrick Helmes, but the effort was ruled offside.

Schalke 04 bounced back from last Saturday's defeat at VfB Stuttgart with an impressive 5-1 win at home to Cologne as Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored a hat-trick in the rout as the Royal Blues ran riot.

Hanover and Mainz both picked up their second win of the season.

Hanover -- who host Sevilla in a Europa League play-off on Thursday -- picked up a 2-1 win at Nuremberg, while Mainz enjoyed a 2-1 win at Freiburg to go top of the table on goal difference.

Hertha Berlin picked up a point as they earned a 2-2 draw at Hamburg

Both VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Moenchengladbach have the chance to get amongst the early league leaders when they meet later on Saturday with both teams chasing their second-straight victory.

Champions League qualifiers Bayer Leverkusen are chasing their first win of the season at home to Werder Bremen on Sunday, while newly-promoted Augsburg are at Kaiserslautern.

Source: AFP