Alexandar Esswein scored to help his team taste victory for the first time at home. Photo courtesy Bundesliga

Simone Sperduto and Salman Mitha, TMT Sports

Sat 27 Aug

Der Club move up table while Bayern gaining momentum in Bundesliga

easyCredit Stadium, Nuremberg - Alexander Esswein came into the match in the 60th minute and minutes later scored the only goal in the first Bavarian Derby of the Bundesliga season, as 1.FC Nürnberg beat FC Augsburg 1-0.

In a match void of any offensive flow, Esswein made a run on the left side, with some fancy dribbling turning around the defender Gibril Sankoh, created some space, and beat Augsburg goalkeeper Simon Jentzsch to the far post in the 76th minute.

"I am elated to have made that goal," said Esswein about his first top league score.  "That was an important win for us, we didn't play well but still earned the three points."

The victory moves Nuremberg up to 10th in the Bundesliga table, 3 points behind the overnight leader Bayern Munich.  Augsburg drops down into an early relegation spot after their second consecutive loss.

The league will be off the next weekend for the international break.  During that time, Augsburg head coach Jos Luhukay will have to figure out how his club can finally get a victory in the top flight.  "We have difficulties in our offense," stated Luhukay when asked what he sees as the main issue after only scored 3 goals in four matches. "We need to strengthen our mental outlook.  In this league, if you don't take advantage of your opportunities, the opponent will turn around and score on you.  We have not taken advantage of our opportunities and that's why we leave today with empty hands."

Augsburg will host Bayer Leverkusen in the first match after the break on Friday, September 9th at SGL Arena, while Nuremberg will travel to north to take on 1.FC Cologne on Sunday of the weekend.

Bayern lead Bundesliga table

Fritz Walter Stadium, Kaiserslautern - Mario Gomez converted a penalty, scored on a block penalty try, and added a third goal for a hat-trick and Manuel Neuer recorded his third consecutive clean sheet in the league as FC Bayern München burned 1.FC Kaiserslautern 3-0.

The win takes the Bavarians to the top of the Bundesliga table and will wait for Sunday's results to see if they will stay up on top going into the international break.

"We had a great game plan and controlled the ball movement," analyzed Bayern head coach Jupp Heynckes.  "It was our best match of the season."

Mario Gomez returns to form with a hat-trick against the Red Devils. Photo courtesy FC Bayern

On the defensive side, high-priced goalkeeper Neuer recorded his fifth overall clean sheet after a stumble in the league opener.  He only faced 5 shots the entire match.  Despite the instability and rightful criticism of Bayern's back line, they have limited opponents' chances deep.  And it was only miscommunication between Neuer and Jerome Boateng that led to the only goal conceded so far by Bayern. 

Since then, the German record champs have outscored their opponents 9-0, 12-0 if the two Champions League matches are included. 

After the international break, Bayern return home to host Sport-Club Freiburg at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, September 10th and then start the group phase of the Champions League.  They will travel to Spain to take on Villareal CF.