Leaders Bayern Munich eased past Stuttgart 2-0 yesterday to grab their first win of the year, as did struggling Borussia Dortmund who beat Freiburg 3-0 to climb off the bottom of the Bundesliga table.
Bayern winger Arjen Robben notched his 12th league goal this season when he picked up the ball just inside the box and drilled in an unstoppable left-foot shot in the 41st minute for the visitors.
Stuttgart, who hit the post in the first half, went further behind in the 51st minute when David Alaba curled a spectacular 35-metre free-kick into the top corner of the net.
Bayern, who had claimed one point from their previous two games, move up to 49 points with Stuttgart, champions in 2007, dropping to last place on 18.
Belgium winger Kevin De Bruyne scored twice for second-placed Wolfsburg in their 3-0 win over Hoffenheim, taking his tally to four goals in three matches and keeping his team eight points behind Bayern.
Record signing Andre Schuerrle also made his first start and set up Bas Dost for Wolfsburg’s opening goal.
Coach Pal Dardai enjoyed a winning debut at Hertha Berlin with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Mainz 05. He replaced the sacked Jos Luhukay on Thursday.
Borussia Dortmund lifted themselves off the foot of the Bundesliga, trading places with Freiburg thanks to a fine win in the Black Forest.
Marco Reus put the Westphalians in front in the ninth minute with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doubling their lead early in the second half.
Aubameyang added a third, allowing Dortmund to celebrate a much-needed win that moves them off the foot of the table and above their hosts.
There was some more tinkering to the Dortmund team with Aubameyang starting up front instead of Ciro Immobile, who found himself back on the bench.
Meanwhile, Shinji Kagawa made his first start in the Bundesliga since November as coach Juergen Klopp continues to search for a winning formula.
Results
Cologne vs Paderborn - 0-0
Freiburg vs Borussia Dortmund - 0-3
Hamburg vs Hanover - 2-1
Mainz vs Hertha Berlin - 0-2
Stuttgart vs Bayern Munich - 0-2
Wolfsburg vs Hoffenheim - 3-0
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| B. Munich | 20 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 45 | 9 | 49 |
| Wolfsburg | 20 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 41 | 19 | 41 |
| Schalke | 20 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 31 | 22 | 34 |
| B. Mgladbach | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 27 | 17 | 33 |
| Augsburg | 19 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 26 | 22 | 33 |
| B. Lev’kusen | 19 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 29 | 20 | 32 |
| Hoffenheim | 20 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 31 | 33 | 26 |
| Hanover | 20 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 30 | 25 |
| E. Frankfurt | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 36 | 39 | 24 |
| Cologne | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 19 | 23 | 24 |
| W. Bremen | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 30 | 40 | 23 |
| Hamburg | 20 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 22 | 23 |
| Mainz | 20 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 25 | 26 | 22 |
| Hertha Berlin | 20 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 26 | 38 | 21 |
| Paderborn | 20 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 34 | 20 |
| B. Dortmund | 20 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 27 | 19 |
| Freiburg | 20 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 30 | 18 |
| Stuttgart | 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 35 | 18 |
Playing today
W. Bremen vs B. Leverkusen - 15.30
Augsburg vs E. Frankfurt - 17.30