Ribery keeps Bayern perfect in Bundesliga

Published November 20, 2014

Franck Ribery scored twice as Bayern Munich maintained its perfect start in the Bundesliga on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Hoffenheim at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern suffered its first loss of the season in all competitions Tuesday, when it was surprised by BATE in Belarus in the Champions League. Ribery got Bayern back on track with goals in the 19th and 48th minutes.

Manuel Neuer posted his fourth straight shutout and fifth of the season as the Munich side made it seven-for-seven to start the league campaign.

Bayern stretched its lead over second-place Eintracht to five points and leads two-time defending champion Borussia Dortmund by 10 points. Both Eintracht and Dortmund play Sunday.

With Arjen Robben sidelined again with injury, and Mario Gomez and David Alaba still out, Ribery carried Bayern against Hoffenheim with his first two goals in league play this season.

Ribery turned a pass from Thomas Muller to the bottom-left corner less than 20 minutes into the match, and was set up by Toni Kroos three minutes after half for a finish to the bottom right.

While Bayern continued its impressive start, Hoffenheim dropped its fourth of the season to slip 14 points off the pace.

Schalke 3, Wolfsburg 0

Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Schalke made easy work of Wolfsburg on Saturday, as Jefferson Farfan, Ibrahim Afellay and Roman Neustadter scored in a 3-0 win at Veltins Arena in the Bundesliga.

Schalke has four wins from seven games and is seven points out of first place, held by seven-win Bayern Munich. Wolfsburg continued to struggle, as it lost its third straight and for the fourth time during a six-game winless streak.

Farfan had the first goal in 33rd minute when he headed a pass from Christian Fuchs into the top-left corner, and Affelay opened his account for Schalke off a pass from Lewis Holtby in the 46th and set up Neustadter in the 58th.

Lars Unnerstall notched his third shutout for Schalke this season. Wolfsburg was blanked for the fifth time during its six-game skid.

Hamburg 1, Greuther Furth 0

Furth, Germany - Heung-Min Son scored early in the first half as Hamburg edged Greuther Furth, 1-0, on Saturday at Trolli Arena for its third victory during a four-game unbeaten streak.

Hamburg lost its first three games this season, but sparked a turnaround with a 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund and has added wins over Hannover and Furth as well as a draw against Monchengladbach.

Son scored the lone goal 17 minutes into the match when he turned a pass from Tolgay Arslan to the bottom-left corner. Germany goalkeeper Rene Adler posted his second straight shutout for Hamburg.

Newly-promoted Furth lost for the fourth time during a five-match winless run, and for the fifth time in seven matches. Furth is bottom of the table on four points, already 17 behind first-place Bayern Munich.

Mainz 1, Dusseldorf 0

Mainz, Germany - Nikolce Noveski scored five minutes from time as Mainz handed 10-man Dusseldorf its first defeat of the season, 1-0, on Saturday at Coface Arena for its third win over its last four Bundesliga matches.

Mainz was winless in its first three league matches, but has shutout Augsburg, Wolfsburg and Dusseldorf over its last four games to secure three wins.

Dusseldorf had allowed just two goals in its first six matches, both in a 2-2 draw against Schalke last week, but Oliver Fink was sent off in the 78th and Mainz pounced in the 85th when Noveski scored to the top-left corner.

Mainz remained 11 points off the top, while Dusseldorf slipped 11 points back of first-place Bayern Munich.

Freiburg 3, Nurnberg 0

Freiburg, Germany - Cedric Makiadi scored in the first half and stoppage-time goals from Daniel Caligiuri and Marco Terrazzino sealed a 3-0 win for Freiburg over Nurnberg on Saturday at Mage Solar Stadion in the Bundesliga.

Freiburg was winless in its last three, including two straight losses, but the opening goal from Makiadi, who converted from close range off a pass from Erik Jendrisek, sparked its second win this season.

Nurnberg has lost four straight matches since starting the season unbeaten in its first three games, which included two wins.

Freiburg remained 13 points off the summit. Nurnberg slipped 14 points back of first-place Bayern Munich.

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