Bundesliga

Playing without strikers Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni, as well as defender Martin Demichelis, the Bavarians managed a tie at Hoffenheim.

It looked as though the hosts had scored in the 11th minute with a header from Josip Simunic, but referees judged it had been palmed out of the goal by keeper Michael Rensing.

Bayern took the lead against the run of play through Ivica Olic in the 25th minute before Chinedu Obasi evened the score with a low drive set up by Vedad Ibisevic.

"The team forgot to play football in the first half," said Bayern manager Louis Van Gaal. "In the second, they were flat, but we did not use our chances."

Magath wins again

Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi scored in both halves to secure a 2-1 victory over newly-promoted Nuremberg.

The win marked a successful debut for coach Felix Magath, who led VfL Wolfsburg to the championship last season.

Kuranyi, who has had his troubles over the past few years, struck in the 36th minute after a pass from Jefferson Farfan. He added a second goal five minutes into the second half by firing in a cross from Georgian Levan Kenia.

Slovak striker Marek Mintal managed to get one back two minutes before time but Nuremberg had to settle for the loss.

"I am glad to have won this match but I am not particularly happy," Magath said. "Our game was not good. After the 1-0 and the 2-0 we should have controlled it much better."

Frankfurt stun Bremen

Werder Bremen, hosting Eintracht Frankfurt, were stunned by a 3-2 loss.

Frankfurt striker Yannis Amanatidis hit twice only to see Bremen fight back before the break. But the visitors got an all-important third when Czech striker Martin Fenin caught the Bremen defense napping to tap in at close range at the 71st minute.

Cologne was defeated by Borussia Dortmund with a goal from Marvin Matip in the 75th minute. Elsewhere, Hertha Berlin managed a 1-0 win over Hanover 96.

In Mainz, an early header from Tim Hoogland put the home side ahead, and a penalty save by goalkeeper Heinz Mueller on a kick from Tranquillo Barnetta gave the hosts a bit of hope. But Leverkusen regrouped and Barnetta fed Eren Derdiyok and Stefan Kiessling for a pair of goals late in the first half. But it was Mainz's Daniel Gunkel who managed to salvage a draw with a late freekick.

Champions start with a win

On Friday night, reigning champions Wolfsburg started their season with a 2-0 win against visitors Stuttgart.

New Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh made just one change from the side preferred by his predecessor Felix Magath last season with Karim Ziani starting in the midfield behind Edin Dzeko and Grafite.

Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel gave new signings Alexander Hleb and Pavel Pogrebnyak an immediate chance to see what they could do.

The two sides showed plenty of energy in the first half and Stuttgart had some opportunities with Sami Khedira seeing a shot saved on the line by Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio and Pogrebnyak also having a header saved, but by the half-time whistle, neither side had hit the back of the net.

Wolfsburg, however, was the better team throughout and the deadlock was broken in the 71st minute by Zvjezdan Misimovic with a curled left-footed shot from the edge of the box. Just 11 minutes later, the freshly-crowned German Footballer of the Year, Grafite, managed to get the clincher by shrugging off a defender and slotting a shot past keeper Jens Lehmann.

Champions Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg went undefeated at home last season with 16 wins and a draw en route to a surprise first national title ahead of Bayern Munich and Stuttgart.

Grafite was last season's Bundesliga top scorer knotching up 28 goals to his credit.

Grafite summed up tonight's opening victory thus: "It was a nice evening for the club and for myself. Another goal for me, I am happy!"

av/Reuters/dpa

Editor: Matt Hermann