Bayern Munich Frustrated By Schalke

Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Schalke as the Bundesliga leaders laboured to another unconvincing display on Saturday.

Robert Lewandowski fired Bayern into an early lead with his 15th goal of the season but Naldo equalised from a free kick minutes later and the home side missed a number of chances to claim the winner late on.

Bayern’s fourth draw opened the opportunity for Leipzig to close within a point at Borussia Dortmund later on Saturday.

The result will increase the pressure on Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti, who had come in for criticism following a perceived dip in performance over previous games.

Lars Stindl struck again, in off the post with just over a quarter-hour remaining, to open the deadlock as Borussia Monchengladbach coach Dieter Hecking celebrated his first win at home with a 3-0 success versus Freiburg.

Stindl had scored twice in the 3-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen the weekend before.

The Monchengladbach captain was involved again when Mahmoud Dahoud crossed for Raffael to seal the win five minutes later, before Patrick Herrmann marked his return from injury by scoring in injury time.

Japan midfielder Genki Haraguchi got Hertha Berlin off to a dream start in the first minute against Ingolstadt, converting Solomon Kalou’s cross at the far post, but there was little goalmouth action afterward, as the match ended 1-0.

Hoffenheim bounced back from their first defeat of the season with a 4-0 rout of Mainz.

Mark Uth took Sebastian Rudy’s ball on his chest and then blasted it inside the left post to open for Hoffenheim in the fifth minute, but the home side had to wait until the 81st minute for Marco Terrazzino to double the lead and Adam Szalai to complete the scoring with two late goals against his former side.

A late penalty from Anthony Modeste was enough for Cologne to win 1-0 at home and leave Wolfsburg just three points off the relegation zone.