Wolfsburg snaps seven-game slide at Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf, Germany – Bas Dost scored twice and Ivica Olic and Diego added goals as Wolfsburg gave interim manager Lorenz-Gunther Kostner a 4-1 win in his season debut against Dusseldorf on Saturday.

Wolfsburg parted ways with former manager Felix Magath earlier this week after its winless run stretched to seven matches, and the team responded for Kostner as Dost scored in the 50th to spark a four-goal second half.

At the foot of the Bundesliga entering the match, Wolfsburg secured its first win since the opening week of the season to move two points off the bottom.

After a scoreless first half, Wolfsburg did not resemble the side that dropped its last four during the slide, as Dost scored early after the break, Olic was target three minutes later in the 53rd, and Dost sealed his brace in the 64th.

Jens Langeneke pulled a goal back from the spot in the 71st for Dusseldorf, as the hosts tried to get back into the match, but Oliver Fink was sent off later in the match and Diego scored from the spot to seal full points for Wolfsburg.

While Wolfsburg climbed off the foot, Dusseldorf dropped its third consecutive game during a four-match winless run since starting the season unbeaten in six matches. Dusseldorf is winless at home this season and 11th in the table.

Borussia Dortmund 2, Freiburg 0

Freiburg, Germany - Neven Subotic and Mario Gotze scored in the second half as Borussia Dortmund followed its Champions League win over Real Madrid this week with a 2-0 Bundesliga win over Freiburg on Saturday at Mage Solar Stadion.

Two-time defending league champion Dortmund had just one victory over its last four league matches, but defeated Real Madrid, 2-1, on Wednesday to climb atop Group D of the Champions League.

Subotic sparked the win in Freiburg, as he scored nine minutes into the second half. Gotze followed seven minutes from time as Dortmund sealed its first road win this season in league play in its fifth attempt.

Dortmund is fourth in the standings, but a full nine points behind first-place Bayern Munich, which hosts Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.

Freiburg lost for the third time in its last five matches and is 13 points off the pace in 10th place.

Schalke 1, Nurnberg 0

Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Jefferson Farfan scored with 13 minutes remaining and Schalke followed its Champions League win at Arsenal with a 1-0 Bundesliga win over Nurnberg on Saturday at Veltins Arena.

Schalke used second-half goals from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Ibrahim Afellay on Wednesday to surprise Arsenal, 2-0, in London, and Farfan followed the script, as he deposited a cross from Christian Fuchs in the 77th minute.

First in Group B in the Champions League, Schalke is second domestically after its fourth win during a five-game unbeaten streak since a 2-0 loss to unbeaten leader Bayern Munich on Sept. 22.

Schalke is just four points back, but Bayern hosts Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday. Nurnberg lost for the fifth time during a six-match winless streak and is just two points off the bottom in 15th place.

Mainz 3, Hoffenheim 0

Mainz, Germany - Adam Szalai scored a hat trick to move into a tie with Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic for the Bundesliga scoring lead, lifting Mainz to a 3-0 win over Hoffenheim on Saturday at Coface Arena.

Szalai entered the day with four goals, and added his fifth, sixth and seventh to help Mainz rise to fifth in the standings with its third win during a four- game undefeated streak.

With 14 points from nine matches, Mainz is 10 points off the pace of Bayern in the standings in fifth. Bayern hosts Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.

Hoffenheim lost for the second time during a four-game winless run, and failed to score for the third time during that streak. Hoffe is 14th in the table and just two points off the bottom.

Greuther Furth 1, Werder Bremen 1

Furth, Germany - Nils Petersen scored just before halftime to cancel an early goal from Edu as Werder Bremen tied Greuther Furth, 1-1, on Saturday at Trolli Arena in the Bundesliga.

Bremen secured its second draw along with three wins through nine matches, and sits ninth in the standings, 13 points off the pace of Bayern Munich.

Furth is winless in seven and sits at the foot of the Bundesliga with just six points, as its promotion to the top flight has not started well. Furth has not won at home in five matches, but secured its first home point against Bremen.