Bundesliga Match Day 9 in pictures
A last-minute game-winner, a six-goal slugfest, an uncharacteristically tough time for the German champions and a pair of refereeing blunders. Here's a look at all of the Match Day 9 action in pictures.
Stuttgart need just one chance
Stuttgart have created a ton of chances this season but have been undone by their inability to convert them. Against Ingolstadt on Sunday, they only created one clear opportunity but took it. The result was 1-0 victory that lifted them off the bottom of the table. Goal-scorer Daniel Didavi, however, was slightly offside.
'Dirty' win for Hannover
Every season has its officiating blunders. Hannover's lone goal in their 1-0 win over Cologne on Sunday was in that category. Nearly everyone in the Rhein-Energie-Stadium saw that Leon Andreasen had pushed the ball across the line with his arm. Except the officials who allowed the goal to stand.
Bayern sputter to victory at Bremen
5-1 has been the Bavarian behemoths' favorite scoreline of late, but there was no slaughter on the Weser River against Werder Bremen. Instead, Bayern Munich had to settle for a hard-fought 1-0 win thanks to Thomas Müller's goal. Nonetheless, the champs have won all of their first nine matches - a new Bundesliga record.
Kruse hat-trick seals Wolfsburg win
No doubt whatsoever who was the man of the match in Wolfsburg's home match against Hoffenheim. Forward Max Kruse scored after 34 seconds to put the Wolves ahead. And when Hoffenheim racked up a brace to equalize, Kruse completed his hat-trick to secure his side a much-needed 4-2 win.
Schalke nab last-second winner
At home against ten-man Hertha Berlin, the Royal Blues struggled to make their numerical advantage pay, and the match went into injury time knotted 1-1. Then up stepped one of the seemingly endless supply of gifted youngsters manufactured in the mines of Gelsenkirchen, Max Meyer. He gifted Schalke a late and somewhat lucky 2-1 win.
Darmstadt down Augsburg
Tiny Darmstadt continue to defy almost every rule of logic, physics, economics, etiquette...you name it. Castaways Sandro Wagner and Peter Niemeyer were on target as the Lillies grabbed a 2-0 away win against Augsburg. Last year's pleasant surprises must envy the run the Bundesliga's smallest club is enjoying at the moment.
Hamburg, Leverkusen fail to score
Remember René Adler? The guy who inherited Jens Lehmann's spot as Germany's number one, only to get hurt and watch Manuel Neuer grab the glory? The guy who lost the starting job at Leverkusen and Hamburg? The guy who hadn't played since matchday? Well, he had Leverkusen holding their heads on Saturday, recording a goalless draw. Every dog has his day. This was René's.
Dortmund defeat Mainz
Friday was a curious evening for Dortmund's Marco Reus. The former wunderkind scored a goal to put his side in front against Mainz and then proceeded to miss a penalty that could have iced the match. No matter. Mainz had little to offer, and Dortmund walked away with a comfy 2-0 victory.
Gladbach hammer feeble Frankfurt
After four straight wins for Mönchengladbach, it's hard to believe that barely a month ago the Foals were reeling after losing their first five matches. These days they're proving pretty much impossible to stop. Their latest victims were Frankfurt who were on the receiving end of a 5-1 thrashing. A little team spirit goes a long way.