Germany round-up: Frustration for favourites

Two of last season's top three in the German 1. Bundesliga were held to draws on the opening Saturday of the new season.

Bayern held
FC Bayern München's game at VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach finished goalless, while 2002 UEFA Champions League finalists Bayer 04 Leverkusen drew 1-1 at FC Energie Cottbus, matching title-holders BV Borussia Dortmund's Friday night 2-2 scoreline against Hertha BSC Berlin.

Determined Mönchengladbach
Bayern, including newly-signed former Leverkusen players Michael Ballack and Zé Roberto, could not open up a determined Mönchengladbach team, as the Munich side seek to win back the championship they had claimed three years running before Dortmund claimed the crown last season.

Simak scores
Meanwhile, Leverkusen seemed to be heading for victory in their first match without the new Bayern duo when summer signing Jan Simak put them ahead in the 63rd minute. However, home side Energie cancelled out the goal ten minutes from full time with an equaliser from Vilmos Sebök.

Klose on the mark
Miroslav Klose, who scored five goals in Germany's run to the FIFA World Cup final, continued that form for 1. FC Kaiserslautern as they claimed a point at VfB Stuttgart. The hosts went ahead just before half-time through a Sean Dundee header, but Klose proved his Far East success was no fluke with a 52nd-minute equaliser after a ball from new Kaiserslautern signing Markus Anfang.

Bochum's perfect start
Newly-promoted VfL Bochum 1848 went straight to the top of the embryonic league table by beating 1. FC Nürnberg 3-1. Spanish striker Thomas Christiansen scored twice in the first 20 minutes of his 1. Bundesliga bow to give Bochum what proved a decisive lead, but they had to withstand a strong Nürnberg rearguard following Sasa Ciric's equaliser early in the second half. But Bochum held on, and secured the points when Vahid Hashemian restored their two-goal advantage six minutes from the end.

Schalke leave it late
Sven Vermant ensured much-fancied FC Schalke 04 made a winning start, the Belgian FIFA World Cup midfield player's goal two minutes from full-time giving them a 1-0 home victory against VfL Wolfsburg. Victor Agali provided the cross for Vermant, as Frank Neubarth celebrated a perfect result in his first Bundesliga match in charge of Schalke.