Bremen and Schalke win

Hoffenheim came into their home clash against Werder Bremen looking for an opening win of the season. But there was no home-field advantage on display in the first half.

The hosts looked leggy, lethargic and failed to threaten Werder's goal, with veteran striker Kevin Kuranyi a particular non-event. Viktor Skripnik's side weren't exactly bubbling over with ambition either but did manage to get a couple of good attempts on goal.

Just before the half-time whistle, a loose ball fell to Zlatko Junuzovic who volleyed it into the net. It was by no means an undeserved lead for Werder.

After the interval, Hoffenheim coach Marcus Gisdol withdrew Kuranyi for new acquisition Eduardo Vargas - a move that paid immediate dividends. Only three minutes later, the Chilean equalized on the break for his first Bundesliga goal.

Hoffenheim were energized but couldn't extend their lead. Werder weathered the pressure and got a boost of their own when returning club legend and prodigal son Claudio Pizarro came on ten minutes from time.

Initially it seemed Werder would be content with a draw, but in injury time, they hoofed the ball up front to Pizarro. The Peruvian stumbled but somehow managed to poke the leather over to Anthony Ujah, who slipped it home.

And Junuzovic lashed a third goal past Oliver Baumann on the last play of the match. The 3-1 scoreline was very harsh on Hoffenheim who are hovering just above the drop zone. Meanwhile Werder surge up to the top third of the table.

Schalke waste but want not

Against Mainz in Sunday's late match, Schalke defied the footballing adage that teams who don't take their chances inevitably get punished. The Royal Blues squandered at least a dozen opportunities but still ran out 2-1 winners in front of their home fans.

After only four minutes, Schalke had a penalty. Daniel Brosinski brought down Dennis Aogo in the box, but Mainz keeper Loris Karius guessed correctly and parried Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's effort from the spot.

Variations on that scene were to repeat themselves throughout the first half, with Karius thwarting one Schalke chance after another and even deflecting what looked to be a certain own goal. But he was powerless to prevent Joel Matip from heading in a Johannes Geis corner kick after 37 minutes.

Five minutes later, Mainz converted only the second of their chances. After some nifty passing and a rebound off the post, all Yunus Malli had to do was stick out his foot to equalize. The score at the interval: 1-1.

There weren't as many scoring opportunities in the second half, but Schalke remained dominant. And Huntelaar gained redemption on the hour mark, losing his marker and firing a world-class bullet across Karius.

The Royal Blues then returned to their profligate ways, with Huntelaar, Max Meyer and Leroy Sané all spurning grade A chances to put the game away. At the other end, Ralf Fährmann pulled off a stunning save of his own to deny Mainz an equalizer in the dying minutes. In the end it was a deserved and entertaining 2-1 win for a Schalke side that generated 24 shots on goal and kept pulses racing inn Gelsenkirchen.