Germany round-up: Nightmare continues for Leverkusen

Early lead 
Klaus Toppmöller's side, runners-up in last season's 1. Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and UEFA Champions League, went ahead in the 10th minute through Jan Simak, but Thordur Gudjonsson, Dariusz Wosz and Frank Fahrenhorst replied before the break and Thomas Christiansen scored Bochum's fourth on the hour.

Third defeat 
Brazilian Franca reduced the deficit for Leverkusen on 78 minutes, but it wasn't enough as the hosts failed to record a win for the third time in as many outings. The result leaves Bochum top of the table with three wins and 12 goals from three matches.

Hansa stun Energie 
There were other big victories today, most notably for unfancied FC Hansa Rostock, who won 4-0 at FC Energie Cottbus. René Rydlewicz scored twice to add to his double against TSV 1860 München last week. He broke the deadlock in the 17th minute, before rounding off the scoring just after the hour mark following a goal apiece from Rida Prica and Peter Wibrån.

Maximum points 
Hansa, in second place, and Bochum are the only teams with maximum points from the first three games. FC Schalke 04, with two wins from two, play Hertha BSC Berlin tomorrow.

Joy for Bayern 
In third are Bayern, who came away from Hamburger SV with a comfortable 3-0 triumph. Peruvian international Claudio Pizarro was first on the scoresheet in the 25th minute, but it was not until the 85th minute that he grabbed his second and three minutes later Alexander Zickler made it three.

Two for Van Hout 
Champions BV Borussia Dortmund defeated VfL Stuttgart 3-1 with goals from Jan Koller, Leonardo and Ewerthon. Sean Dundee struck for the visitors with a 76th-minute penalty. VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach also hit three as they beat 1. FC Kaiserslautern 3-0, and it was Belgian Joris van Hout who was the toast of the home fans with two goals. Markus Münch scored the other.

1860 bounce back 
1860 bounced back from last week's shock loss to Hansa with a 3-0 success against SV Werder Bremen and they are now in fourth position. Markus Schroth, Harald Cerny and Martin Max were the men on target, condemning Werder to a second defeat.

Brinkmann boosts Bielefeld 
In the other match of the day, a brilliant goal by Ansgar Brinkmann for DSC Arminia Bielefeld meant a losing debut for Stefan Effenberg with VfL Wolfsburg. Brinkmann weaved his way through the Wolfsburg defence just before half-time and slotted home a neat finish that gave Bielefeld a 1-0 win. Effenberg, always a controversial figure in German football, was roundly booed by the home fans whenever he touched the ball.