Three-star Schalke off to perfect start

Champions League contenders Schalke 04 got their Bundesliga title bid off to the perfect start with a 3-0 win over Hanover on Saturday.

Schalke were 2-0 up after just seven minutes with goals from Brazilian Marcelon Bordon and Germany international Kevin Kuranyi who added a third after the hour mark.

Elsewhere Werder Bremen, bereft of their playmaker Diego who is on Olympics duty for Brazil, emerged from their visit to Arminia Bielefeld with a 2-2 draw.

Vfl Wolfsburg, who have splashed out 25 million euros in the transfer market, beat newly promoted FC Cologne 2-1.

Borsussia Dortmund came away rom their visit to Bayer Leverkusen with a 3-2 victory, the goals coming from Nelson Valdez, Florian Kringe and Neven Subotic.

Bundesliga newboys Hoffenheim, enjoyed their first game in the topflight, sweeping aside former East German side Energie Cottbus 3-1.

Sunday’s programme sees Eintracht Frankfurt up against Hertha Berlin and Borussia Monchengladbach hosting Vfb Stuttgart.

On Friday Jurgen Klinsmann’s reign as Bayern Munich coach got off to a stuttering start with the injury-hit German champions being held to a 2-2 draw by Hamburg.

“We’ve got a lot of work in front of us,” said Klinsmann who was missing his injured strike duo Franck ribery and Luca Toni.

“Some players only started training very late (after Euro 2008),” added the 44-year-old former Germany manager.

Two goals inside five minutes had given Bayern the edge in the opening period, Bastian Schweinsteiger netting in the 12th minute with a wonderful effort and Lukas Podolski slotting home a penalty four minutes later.

But gritty Hamburg bounced back on 25 minutes, after some sloppy defending by Brazilian defender Lucio allowed Paolo Guerrero to steal in front and comfortably head one back.