Hat-trick hero Gomez sends Bayern Munich top of Bundesliga

Posted on August 29, 2011 by SoccerPunter

Bayern have nine points and top the table on goal difference from Werder Bremen, who came from behind to win 2-1 at Hoffenheim thanks to goals from Marko Arnautovic and Markus Rosenberg.

Saturday’s evening kick-off sees defending champions Borussia Dortmund visit last season’s runners-up Bayer Leverkusen, with both teams bidding to draw level on points with Bayern and Bremen.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes fielded a changed starting XI at Kaiserslautern, with Arjen Robben absent due to a groin injury and Rafinha, Luis Gustavo and Toni Kroos on the bench.

It did not prevent Bayern from dominating proceedings at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion, however, and after squandering several chances they took a 37th-minute lead when Gomez converted a penalty.

Bayern were awarded a second penalty in the 55th minute, following a foul on Thomas Muller, and although Gomez’s spot-kick was parried by goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, the former Stuttgart man ghosted in to place home the rebound.

Gomez completed his hat-trick in the 69th minute, taking his tally for the season to four goals, by finishing off good work from Muller with a left-foot shot.

“I’ve always said that the team will improve from match to match,” said Heynckes. “And we can still get better as the team can become even more compact.”

Bayern, who thrashed Hamburg 5-0 last weekend, have not conceded a goal since the shock 1-0 loss at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach on the opening day.

“The defence let nothing past,” added Heynckes. “They played very confidently and were well-organised.”

Hamburg endured another dismal afternoon after throwing away a 3-2 lead to lose 4-3 at home to Cologne, which left them rooted to the foot of the table.

South Korea striker Son Heung-Min gave the hosts the lead in the 62nd minute, but Christian Clemens was left unmarked to score the equaliser from a corner in the 84th minute.

Worse was to follow four minutes later, as a weak attempted punch from Hamburg’s Czech goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny allowed Kevin McKenna to volley in the winner.

Freiburg, ninth last term, secured their first win of the season with a 3-0 success at home to Wolfsburg.

Oliver Barth opened the scoring with a 30th-minute header, before in-demand striker Papiss Demba Cisse teed up Erik Jenvresik for the second goal 10 minutes later.

Congolese midfielder Cedrik Makiadi sealed victory in style just before the hour, seizing on a weak defensive header to thrash a volley inside the right-hand post from 15 yards.

In the day’s other game Nuremberg won 1-0 at home to Augsburg, who are one of three teams in the division – alongside Kaiserslautern and Hamburg – still seeking a first victory.

Third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach and fourth-placed Hanover are both in action on Sunday, with top spot beckoning for both sides in case of victory.

Hanover have the easier assignment, however, as they host Mainz while Gladbach visit fifth-placed Schalke, who have scored 10 goals in their last two matches and thrashed HJK Helsinki 6-1 in the Europa League on Thursday.

In Friday’s match, promoted Hertha Berlin registered their first win of the campaign with a 1-0 defeat of Stuttgart.

German bundesliga results:

Hamburg 3 FC Cologne 4
Nuremberg 1 FC Augsburg 0
Hoffenheim 1 Werder Bremen 2
SC Freiburg 3 VfL Wolfsburg 0
Kaiserslautern 0 Bayern Munich 3
Bayer Leverkusen 0 Borussia Dortmund 0