Bundesliga Wrap: Hamburg hold Schalke, Mainz edge Stuttgart

A second-half strike from Adam Szalai earned Schalke a 3-3 draw with Hamburg in a thrilling game at the Veltins Arena on Sunday.

On his Bundesliga debut for Schalke, Szalai netted 18 minutes from time to ensure a share of the spoils for Jens Keller’s men after a thrilling encounter in which the lead regularly changed hands.

Schalke took the lead after just two minutes, Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar finding the net with a superb first-time finish after being put through by Julian Draxler.

However, their lead proved to be short-lived, Hamburg levelling just nine minutes later as Rafael van der Vaart converted from the spot after Joel Matip was adjudged to have handled Marcell Jansen’s left-wing cross.

Thorsten Fink’s men then turned the game on its head after 21 minutes, Maximilian Beister meeting Dennis Diekmeier’s delivery with a bullet header which cannoned off the underside of the bar and into the net off Schalke keeper Timo Hildebrand.

Schake equalised just before the interval though. Huntelaar netted his second with a headed effort from point-blank range following a well-worked corner from Christian Clemens and Christian Fuchs.

Hamburg gained the advantage for a second time early in the second half as Lasse Sobiech nodded in Van der Vaart’s corner at the far post, but again they could not hold on and substitute Szalai secured a point for the hosts, reacting quickest to slot home after Rene Adler had spilled Clemens’ effort from range.

Nicolai Mueller was the hero for Mainz in their opening game of the season, netting a double for Thomas Tuchel’s men as they overcame Stuttgart 3-2 at the Coface Arena.

Mueller opened his Bundesliga account for the season 14 minutes into the game as he capitalised on some sloppy play from the visitors to steal possession before surging forward and firing confidently beyond goalkeeper Sven Ulreich.

However, just two minutes later Stuttgart tied things up, Vedad Ibisevic turning in Ibrahima Traore’s right-wing cross in at the near post.

That was the way it stayed until the 65th minute when Shinji Okazaki – playing against the club he left in July – gave Mainz the lead again with a close-range finish.

Mueller stretched the advantage 13 minutes later as he rifled home following an incisive pass from Maxim Choupo-Moting and, although Martin Harnik pulled one back eight minutes from time, Mainz were able to hold on and claim the points.