Winners and Losers from Bundesliga Week 5
Normal service has resumed in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich topping the table.
The 2-0 canter in Cologne was Pep Guardiola's charges' first away win of the season and extended their lead to two points.
Worryingly perhaps for the rest of the league, the Bavarians reached the summit after just five games—three games earlier than last season's record-breaking season.
Find out the winners and losers from Week 5, including another dismal defeat for Dortmund in the Ruhr Derby against Schalke.
Winner: Xabi Alonso
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Xabi Alonso's seamless transition from the fringes at Real Madrid to running the Bavarian boiler room continues.
In a masterful performance on Saturday in Cologne, the Spanish World Cup winner broke team-mate Thiago's touches record with 204 touches of the ball. The 32-year-old midfield maestro also matter-of-factly completed 175 of 196 passes.
After injuries threatened to ravage Bayern's early season, Pep Guardiola's transfer-deadline signing is fast proving a masterstroke.
Real Madrid must have an abundance of riches if Carlo Ancelotti's charges can do without Alonso in this form.
Winner: Nicolai Muller
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After a record 508 minutes without scoring in the Bundesliga, Hamburg finally managed to get off the mark.
Congratulations to German international Nicolai Muller for his historic goal in the 58th minute against Eintracht Frankfurt.
HSV languish at the bottom of the table after a last-ditch 2-1 defeat, but at least the three-time Bundesliga champions have broken their scoring duck.
Progress.
"Hamburger SV score their first goal of the season after 508 min. The previous Bundesliga record was set by VFL Bochum in 1979/80 (475 min.)
— Infostrada Sports (@InfostradaLive) September 28, 2014"
Loser: Mats Hummels
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Good news for Borussia Dortmund fans: Mats Hummels is back!
But the defender's first start since the World Cup Final ended in a bitter derby defeat.
Bolstering a fragile Borussia Dortmund back-line, Hummels was arguably partly to blame for the Royal Blues' opening goal, allowing Joel Matip a free header to put Schalke ahead.
"""GOAL! Matip knocks home the header for Schalke to take the lead in the Ruhr Derby. Who was marking? You guessed it; Mats Hummels. 1-0
— Stefan Bienkowski (@SBienkowski) September 27, 2014"
Winners: Borussia Monchengladbach
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Unbeaten Borussia Monchengladbach continued to impress with a 2-1 away win at promoted Paderborn.
Early goals from Patrick Herrmann and Raffael put Gladbach well on the way to three points in Westphalia.
"The Foals" jumped into the second spot just two points behind pace-setters Bayern Munich in the table.
Losers: Werder Bremen
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Four-time Bundesliga winners Werder Bremen have yet to win this season and are enduring their worst start to a campaign in 44 years.
Bremen possess the league's most-porous defence, conceding 15 goals at an unhealthy average of 2.5 goals per game.
Saturday's "North Derby" defeat against VfL Wolfsburg was Bremen's third-straight loss and intensifies the pressure on under-fire coach Robin Dutt.
Winner: Ivica Olic
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The Croatian striker is still going strong for both club and country.
The 35-year-old "Golden Oldie" scored the golden goal in the "North Derby."
After hitting the eventual winner against Bremen, the ex-Bayern striker went off to standing ovations to be replaced in the dying minutes by Nicklas Bendtner.
"Third goal of the 2014/15 #Bundesliga season for @VfLWolfsburg_EN's Ivica Olic #WOBSVW pic.twitter.com/EJ5993s2ge
— Bundesliga (@Bundesliga_EN) September 27, 2014"
Winners: VfB Stuttgart
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Daniel Schwaab's first goal in 134 appearances secured a precious first win of the season for VfB Stuttgart.
Stuttgart tamely surrendered a two-goal lead in Dortmund in midweek, but Armin Veh's charges held on at home to Hanover for a narrow 1-0 victory.
The win moves the three-time Bundesliga winners out of the relegation places.
Winner: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
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Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has been arguably Schalke's standout player this season, in among such high-profile stars like Julian Draxler and Kevin-Prince Boateng.
Choupo-Moting, a free transfer summer signing from Mainz, fired what proved to be the decisive goal against Dortmund in the Ruhr Derby.
The Cameroon international's third strike of the season is guaranteed to improve his popularity rating among Schalke fans.
Winner: Jens Keller Schalke 04
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Credit to Jens Keller for relieving more pressure with a vital win against Borussia Dortmund in the Ruhr Derby.
It would have been too easy for the Schalke heirarchy to dispense with Keller's services following Schalke's woeful start to the season.
But two wins in a week have moved the Royal Blues above neighbours Dortmund in the table.
Winner: Lucas Piazon
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Eintracht Frankfurt's Lucas Piazon scored definitely the goal of the week, blasting a devastating late free-kick to dash Hamburg's hopes.
Watch this cracker...
""#TalentRadar | Take a bow Lucas Piazon https://t.co/tytReOIbNI
— OutsideoftheBoot.com (@OOTB_football) September 28, 2014"
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Losers: Dortmund's Defence
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Dortmund's defence is in disarray.
Despite the return of Mats Hummels, Dortmund conceded another two soft goals in the derby defeat at Schalke.
Jurgen Klopp's charges have now shipped 11 goals in just six games and possess the third-worst defensive record in the Bundesliga.
The effervescent coach commented after the game, "It's a shit evening, no question!"
"„Das ist ein Scheiß-Abend - ohne Wenn und Aber!“ Jürgen Klopp nach #S04BVB. pic.twitter.com/nKPPZAPapi
— BILD (@BILD) September 27, 2014"
Dortmund already languish seven points behind Bayern in the table with three defeats in six league games.
Winner: Mario Gotze
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"Super Mario" set up Bayern's first away win with the opener on 19 minutes in Cologne.
The 22-year-old also provided an assist for the second goal as the Reds coasted to a routine victory on the Rhein.
It's been a fruitful week for Germany's World Cup Final goalscorer. Gotze notched a brace in midweek against Paderborn and is Bayern's top marksman with four in six league games.
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