Draw Specialists Hamburg Still Waiting for Win

Ivory Coast striker Boubacar Sanogo scored his third goal in as many games on 18 minutes to put Hamburg ahead but Christian Gimenez equalized in the 64th minute.

Hamburg, touted as title contenders, are left searching for their first win of the new campaign after drawing their first three matches.

Thomas Doll's team qualified for the Champions League in midweek at the expense of Osasuna and with the financial windfall the club splashed out six million euros on Dutch international defender Joris

Mathijsen.

Mathijsen, part of the Dutch World Cup squad, had a steady debut against Hertha but could not help the club register their first win.

Another Sunday tie: Mainz v Frankfurt

Eintracht Frankfurt ended their match in Mainz with nine men after defender Christoph Spycher was dismissed in the 64th minute for a second bookable offence, and Alexander Vasoski followed him into the dressing room after a red card two minutes from time.

A 25th-minute headed goal by Greek striker Ioannis Amanatidis put Frankfurt ahead but Mainz were able to grab a point when Ranisav Jovanovic headed an equalizer six minutes from time.

Bayern shoot blanks

Bayern had won both of their opening matches and had the opportunity to capitalize on an early slip from title rivals Werder Bremen who lost 2-0 to Schalke 04 on Friday.

The league and cup winners had the better of the match but could not take their chances with Dutch forward Roy Makaay the main culprit missing an open goal from five meters out.

Nuremberg, who had also collected a maximum six points, stood firm and lead the 18-strong German top-flight on goal difference.

Schalke 04 and Bayern are second and third with Bremen falling to fifth.

Despite taking a 4-0 hammering by Barcelona in a midweek friendly, Bayern coach Felix Magath resisted the temptation to recall England international Owen Hargreaves to the starting line-up.

Midfielder Hargreaves was on the substitutes bench as the club punish him for trying to force a 25 million euro move to Manchester United.

Bayern started the brighter and Hasan Salihamidzic forced a fine save from Raphael Schaefer.

Makaay fluffs his lines

Near the end of the first half Makaay was presented with a glorious chance but with the goal wide open the Dutch forward somehow hit the side netting instead of the goal. He will not want to see the replays.

It proved costly as Bayern had to settle for a point and the club will see it as a missed chance to open up an early points advantage over Bremen.

Schalke ripped up the formbook to triumph 2-0 courtesy of goals from German international forward Kevin Kuranyi and substitute Hamit Altintop. "We are delighted to leapfrog Bremen who are a great team," said Schalke coach Mirko Slomka.

"We had so many chances to win the game convincingly but we will take the 2-0. There is no point in getting carried away though as we have only played three games."

Bremen off the pace after Schalke defeat

Only an inspired performance from Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese, emerging as a candidate for the German national team, prevented Schalke from racking up a tennis score as Bremen looked anything but champion material.

"I cannot remember the last time we played so poorly," said Bremen striker Miroslav Klose. "We should just be glad that it was only 1-0 for so much of the game."

Brazilian journalists were at the game to monitor Bremen's in-form playmaker Diego but it was Schalke's Brazilian Lincoln that stole the show. "They came to see Diego but ended up watching Lincoln," said Schalke's Brazilian defender Marcelo Bordon.

Elsewhere on Saturday Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg played out a 1-1 draw as did Borussia Mönchengladbach and Arminia Bielefeld.

Aachen hit three at Hanover

Newly promoted Alemannia Aachen hit three goals without conceding in an impressive away victory at Hanover while Dortmund also scored three away from home, but let in one against Stuttgart.

The two other promoted teams VfL Bochum and Energie Cottbus faced off at the Ruhrstadion but it was the visiting team from the east which came away the points. Cottbus' 1-0 win over Bochum consigned the Ruhr team to its third consecutive defeat and rooted them firmly to the bottom of the league.

On Sunday SV Hamburg, another team touted as title candidates, have the chance to register their first win of the season against Hertha Berlin.