Germany round-up: Bayern still unbeaten

Red card
Claudio Pizarro put Bayern ahead in the 14th minute and once Hamburg's Collin Benjamin was sent off for persistent infringement shortly after half-time, the visitors took control and substitute Giovane Elber sealed the win 12 minutes from time. Bayern sit in second place behind SV Werder Bremen, who recorded a resounding 4-1 victory at home against FC Schalke 04 on Saturday.

Leverkusen leapfrogged
The victory enabled Bremen to overtake Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 2001/02 champions BV Borussia Dortmund at the head of the standings, with Klaus Augenthaler's Leverkusen side suffering a first league loss of the season away to VfL Bochum 1848 while Dortmund were beaten at 1. FC Köln.

Three-goal lead
First-half goals from Angelos Charisteas, Tim Borowski and Ailton put Bremen in command. The win was completed nine minutes from time when Nelson Valdez added a fourth for the home team, before Victor Agali scored a consolation goal for the visitors a minute later.

Leaders lose
Leverkusen, who had won all three of their league games this season prior to their visit to Bochum, were unable to break down a well-organised defence. Midfield player Thomas Zdebel scored the only goal of the match 19 minutes into the second half to decide the match in the home side's favour.

Dortmund defeated
Dortmund began the day in second place but also suffered an away defeat, midfield player Dirk Lottner's 56th-minute goal earning Köln all three points.

Suttgart into second
VfB Stuttgart took advantage of the top two's defeats to move third in the table with a 2-0 victory at home to 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Goals in the first 14 minutes from Brazilian striker Cacau and Croatian midfield player Zvonimir Soldo effectively sealed the result.

Schwarz success
A goal from Danny Schwarz a minute before the hour proved enough for TSV 1860 München to defeat VfL Wolfsburg 1-0 at home. The visitors lost Argentinian midfield player Andres D'Alessandro to a 39th-minute red card, before Wolfsburg's Maik Frainz and Daniel Borimirow of 1860 München were both sent off in the 64th minute as the home side held on for the win.

Four for Freiburg
Zlatan Bajramovic scored twice to give SC Freiburg an early advantage at home to VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach and Andreas Zeyer increased the lead eleven minutes before half-time. Arie van Lent pulled a goal back for the visitors midway through the second period, but a fourth from Alexander Iashvili in the final minute wrapped up the result.

Goalless draw
Elsewhere on Saturday, the game between Eintracht Frankfurt and Hertha BSC Berlin ended scoreless.