Bayern, Leverkusen exploit Dortmund draw

FC Bayern München ended FC Schalke 04's winning run with an emphatic 4-0 victory in Gelsenkirchen to move level on points with early Bundesliga frontrunners Borussia Dortmund, whose disappointing week ended with a 1-1 draw at 1. FC Nürnberg.

Midweek victors both in the UEFA Champions League, Bayern were a class apart at Schalke. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Mandžukić headed two goals inside a minute, midway through the first period, to send the defending champions on their way. Franck Ribéry turned in a third, before substitute Claudio Pizarro joined the party late on. 

The win left Dortmund's leading the nascent table by goal difference, as Jürgen Klopp's side let slip a lead given to them by Marcel Schmelzer's fantastic free-kick. Per Nilsson crashed in an equaliser from close range.

A point further back are Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who overpowered 1. FSV Mainz 05 4-1. On his debut, Robbie Kruse scored either side of a Lars Bender effort in a one-way first half. Stefan Kiessling's fifth goal of the campaign arrived before Yunus Malli's late response for Mainz.

Raffael starred on Friday night, scoring twice in a 4-1 win as VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach inflicted a fifth defeat in six for TSV Eintracht Braunschweig.