AFP/Munich


Jerome Boateng has said Bayern Munich will only get better having closed the gap at the top of the Bundesliga, while Hertha Berlin drew 1-1 with Freiburg yesterday.  
After successive defeats, Hertha picked up their first point in three games at Freiburg as Admir Mehmedi’s early goal for the hosts was cancelled out by Per Skjelbred’s first-half equaliser for Hertha. Despite the point, Freiburg remain second from bottom after three draws and three defeats, while Berlin are tenth. Pep Guardiola’s second-placed Bayern are now level on both goal difference and points with leaders Borussia Dortmund after Saturday’s 4-0 win at Schalke 04.
“We’re improving from game to game and we will get better from week to week,” said centre-back Boateng with Bayern hosting Hanover 96 in the second round of the German Cup on Wednesday. It was the Royal Blues’ worst league defeat in Gelsenkirchen since May 1981. Guardiola meanwhile expressed enthusiasm having taken charge of the European champions in June.
“That was our best performance so far in the Bundesliga, we dominated against one of the best teams in Germany,” beamed Guardiola after his side enjoyed 70% ball possession against Schalke.
Despite a bright opening 20 minutes, Jens Keller’s Schalke undid their good work as first Munich vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, then striker Mario Mandzukic were left unmarked in the area to head home.
Schweinsteiger, back in the starting side after straining ankle ligaments last month, smashed home Arjen Robben’s corner on 21 minutes and 99 seconds later, Mandzukic converted David Alaba’s cross. France winger Franck Ribery and then replacement striker Claudio Pizarro added late goals as Schalke’s four-match winning run came to an abrupt halt. Bayern have now gone 31 games without losing a Bundesliga match and have recorded 26 league wins and five draws since losing 2-1 loss to Leverkusen in October 2012.
Having won their first five league games, league leaders Dortmund stumbled as left-back Marcel Schmelzer’s first-half free-kick was cancelled out by Nuremberg centre-back Per Nilsson’s second-half strike.
Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp brought a weakened team with centre-back Mats Hummels missing with a back injury.
Star striker Robert Lewandowski and midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan started on the bench and were rested after Borussia’s 2-1 Champions League defeat at Napoli on Wednesday.
Both Schmelzer and attacking midfielder Marco Reus are doubtful for tomorrow’s German Cup second-round match at second division 1860 Munich after picking up leg injuries.
Bayer Leverkusen are third after their 4-1 win at Mainz 05 as Australia star Robbie Kruse scored two first-half goals, his first Bundesliga goals for Leverkusen since joining from Fortuna Duesseldorf. The 24-year-old drilled home a pass from Germany winger Sidney Sam after 19 minutes, set up Sven Bender for Leverkusen’s second, then converted a pass from captain Simon Rolfes for Bayer’s third just before half-time. The league’s joint top-scorer Stefan Kiessling then scored his fifth goal of the season when he headed home unmarked early in the second half, before Mainz midfielder Yunus Malli netted a late consolation.
Hanover 96 stay fourth after a 2-1 win at home to Ausgburg with Hungary midfielder Szabolcs Huszti netting an 89th-minute penalty. After sacking coach Thorsten Fink last week in the wake of their 6-2 drubbing at Dortmund, Hamburg slumped to their fourth defeat of the season, losing 2-0 at home to neighbours Werder Bremen. Wolfsburg moved up to sixth with a 2-1 win at home to Hoffenheim as Croatia’s ex-Bayern striker Ivica Olic scored both Wolves goals.