Strikers steal the show in Germany

By Mark Bennett

Two goals from Kevin Kuranyi handed FC Schalke 04 a comeback win at BV Borussia Dortmund, while Roy Makaay struck a hat-trick as FC Bayern München hit five past Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Important equaliser
Kuranyi, a €6.9 million summer signing from VfB Stuttgart, made his presence felt in a frenetic Ruhr Valley derby but Schalke had to come from behind after Euzebiusz Smolarek's 17th-minute opener. But the lead lasted just six minutes before German international Kuranyi equalised for the visitors.

Schalke celebrations
He struck his second of the match just before the hour mark, capitalising on indecision from Christoph Metzelder. The Dortmund defender failed to deal with a Mladen Krstajic cross and the Schalke striker calmly collected before slotting the ball beyond Roman Weidenfeller to hand Schalke victory.

Sweet revenge
In Saturday's other big match Bayern avenged their shock 4-1 defeat at the BayArena last season with a comprehensive 5-2 win. Dutch striker Makaay, who scored twice in the opening match of the season against VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach last weekend, added three more to leave Leverkusen reeling.

Unstoppable Makaay
The writing was always on the wall for the home side after Michael Ballack had made the breakthrough after just three minutes. Makaay doubled the lead eight minutes later and although Dimitar Berbatov reduced the deficit Adel Karimi restored Bayern's two-goal cushion before the interval. And then Makaay took centre stage, scoring two inside three minutes just before the hour to put the UEFA Champions League hopefuls in full command before Marko Babic made it 5-2 late on.

Altintop Hat-trick
Makkay was not the only player to register a hat-trick, as Halil Altintop hit three in 1. FC Kaiserslautern's 5-3 victory over MSV Duisburg, while UEFA Cup participants Hertha BSC Berlin beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0. The games between Mönchengaldbach and VfL Wolfsburg, and 1. FC Nürnberg and Hannover 96 both ended 1-1.

Barbarez opener
Elsewhere, Hamburger SV continued their excellent run of form with a 2-0 win at DSC Arminia Bielefeld. Sergej Barbarez, who scored the only goal in the first leg of the UEFA Intertoto Cup final against Valencia CF, was on target from the penalty spot before Rafael van der Vaart opened his Bundesliga account with a fine strike.

Sunday fixtures
On Sunday, Werder Bremen will look to bounce back from their 2-1 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round defeat by FC Basel 1893 away to 1. FSV Mainz 05, while Stuttgart entertain 1. FC Köln.