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Bayern and Schalke win, Hoffenheim draw

Matt ZuvelaSeptember 23, 2014

Bayern Munich reclaimed the top spot in the table with a big win over Paderborn. Schalke also won comfortably, while Mainz conceded late to give Frankfurt a draw, and Freiburg conceded even later to draw with Hoffenheim.

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Fußball Bundesliga 5. Spieltag FC Bayern München SC Paderborn
Image: Reuters/Michael Dalder

Matchday five in the Bundesliga began on Tuesday night, with the first four mid-week games. Bayern Munich predictably reclaimed the top spot in the table with an easy win over Paderborn, while Schalke picked up their first win of the season against Bremen. Mainz conceded late to allow Frankfurt a draw, and Freiburg conceded even later to hand Hoffenheim a draw.

Bayern leapfrog Paderborn to claim top spot

Paderborn had the misfortune of gaining the top spot in the Bundesliga table the week of the league's mid-week matches, meaning their brief post at the summit was short-lived. Matchday four wrapped up on Sunday, and matchday five kicked off on Tuesday.

Bayern Munich didn't waste any time in taking an early lead, with Mario Götze and Robert Lewandowski scoring in the eighth and 14th minutes respectively to give the home side a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

Bayern slowed the frenetic tempo a bit in the second half, but still had no problem keeping Paderborn under control. The guests certainly can't be faulted for a lack of effort, but in searching high and low for a way to a goal of their own, simply ran themselves out of steam.

Flagging concentration led to two more Bayern goals in the final phase of the match. Götze picked up his second from close range, while Thomas Müller – whose sublime back heel set up Götze's first goal – added Bayern's fourth and final goal five minutes from time.

Bayern have now taken the lead in the table, while Paderborn fall to fourth with five more games to be played in matchday five on Wednesday.

Fußball Bundesliga 5. Spieltag Eintracht Frankfurt 1. FSV Mainz 05
Hofmann showed why Mainz were keen to sign himImage: picture-alliance/AP/Michael Probst

Frankfurt battle back from two down

Mainz squandered an opportunity to at least remain even with Bayern on points when they conceded a late goal against Frankfurt.

Two goals in three minutes gave Mainz an early lead as the first half came to a close. The first came from Jonas Hofmann and was followed immediately after by Shinji Okazaki. Frankfurt spoiled Mainz's trip into the locker room however, with Alexander Maier snatching a goal in the closing seconds of the first half.

A free kick in the 82nd minute by Marc Stendera found a perfectly placed Haris Seferovic, who headed home Frankfurt's second goal to even the score at 2-2, dashing Mainz's hopes of remaining even with Bayern for another week.

Hopeful Hoffenheim hang on against Freiburg

Visitors Freiburg looked to be just one step ahead of Hoffenheim in nearly every minute of their match – except for the one minute that counted against the home team.

Mike Frantz had an excellent run in the first half that saw him score two goals in two minutes, putting Freiburg two goals to the good.

But like Frankfurt, Hoffenheim refused to roll over and let their opponents go into halftime enjoying a two-goal lead - Tarik Elyounoussi kept Hoffenheim alive with a goal a minute before the break.

Fußball Bundesliga 5. Spieltag TSG 1899 Hoffenheim SC Freiburg
Hoffenheim were once again involved in a goal-heavy gameImage: Matthias Hangst/Bongarts/Getty Images

Sebastian Rudy tied things up in the 63rd minute, and it looked like they may escape with a point.

But Freiburg was awarded a penalty in the 75th minute when Hoffenheim's Tobias Strobl fouled Jonathan Schmid on the edge of the penalty area. Vladimir Darida scored the spot kick to put Freiburg 3-2 ahead with just 15 minutes to go.

Six minutes later though, a red card for Darida meant Hoffenheim had a man-advantage and a chance to even the score. Darida was sent off for accidently kicking Pirmin Schwegler in the face while attemping to clear the ball. It might have been a bit of a harsh decision from referee Thorsten Kinhöfer, but awarding Freiburg a penalty was a bit questionable as well.

Hoffenheim made the most of four minutes of injury time, as Jannick Vestergard scrambled home from inside the box with the final kick of the game to seal the 3-3 draw.

The final match of the fifth matchday saw Schalke earn their first win of the season. The 3-0 victory against Werder Bremen was surely a weight off of Jens Keller's shoulders. But for Bremen coach Robin Dutt, it proved nothing more than an added burden, as his team has now gone five matches without a win.

The first half was a scrappy affair between the two clubs, with both sides chalking up two yellow cards but creating very few chances.

Fußball Bundesliga 5. Spieltag Werder Bremen FC Schalke 04
Schalke showed their best during the week, after signs of their worst on the weekendImage: Reuters/Fabian Bimmer

Schalke's first win, Bremen still looking

Schalke turned things around right at the beginning of the second half, with Max Meyer and Roman Neustädter scoring in the space of three minutes to give Schalke a comfortable lead that they would never relinquish.

Bremen had no answer for Schalke's renewed intensity in the second half. Tranquillo Barnetta came off the bench and scored Schalke's final goal five minutes from time for a final score of 3-0.

The Bundesliga's mid-week fifth matchday continues on Wednesday: Leverkusen host Augsburg, while struggling Stuttgart are on the road to Dortmund. Gladbach are at home against a revived Hamburg, Wolfsburg take on Hertha Berlin in the capital, and Hanover travel to kings of the clean sheet, Cologne.

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