Bayern Munich increase Bundesliga advantage

Bayern Munich extended their lead atop the Bundesliga standings with a 4-0 win over Hoffenheim as Schalke upset runner-up Wolfsburg 3-2 and Frankfurt shocked Monchengladbach with a comeback win.

Bayern Munich cruised to a victory over Hoffenheim to establish a seven-point advantage. Besides that the 'Bavarians' celebrated the comeback of midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who played his first game since the World Cup final in Brazil, reports Xinhua.

Hoffenheim staged a forceful performance against the German giants but missed the chance to grab the opener through Anthony Modeste, who missed the target from very close range.

Bayern broke the deadlock as Mario Goetze hammered home a 25-metre strike into the top right corner (22nd minute). With his seventh goal of the season, Goetze leads the Bundesliga goal scorers' standings.

Hoffenheim were unable to hold pace as Robert Lewandowski doubled the lead six minutes before the break. The Polish striker headed home a cross by Arjen Robben.

After the break Bayern remained in control but had to wait until the 82nd minute when Robben chipped home a one-two with Lewandowski. Sebastian Rode made it four with Schweinsteiger's assist five minutes later.

Hoffenheim ensured a negative highlight just before the whistle as Adam Szalai's rude foul play to Dante was punished with a straight red card. With the result Bayern consolidate their top position meanwhile Hoffenheim slip from fifth to seventh.

Schalke upset runner-up Wolfsburg 3-2 courtesy of Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting's brace. Wolfsburg hoped to hold the pace with Bayern Munich but things turned out other than expected as Schalke worked out a three-goal lead within 25 minutes.

The 0-3 deficit was a wakening call for Wolfsburg as veteran Ivica Olic reduced the arrears. Niklas Bendtner made it 2-3.

With the result, Schalke climb to sixth as they seal the fifth win of the season while Wolfsburg stay second with a seven-point gap to the front-runners.

Third placed Monchengladbach suffered their first loss on home soil of the season as Frankfurt came from behind to snatch three points following a 3-1 win. Despite the loss Monchengladbach stay in third position as Frankfurt remain in 12th.

Borussia Dortmund stay at the basement as they squandered a two-goal lead against newly promoted Paderborn. The visitors from Dortmund grabbed the lead in the 12th minute through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who poked home a cross by Erik Durm.

Dortmund kept it going and doubled the lead just before the break against persistent hosts as Aubameyang assisted Marco Reus, who had no problems to score the 2-0 lead.

Things changed after the break as Paderborn reduced the arrears following a fast break. Lukas Rupp completed a counter-attack after a Dortmund corner in the 60th.

Dortmund tried to recover but Kevin Grosskreutz' regular goal (80th) was called offside. To make things worse, Paderborn's Mahir Saglik scored the equaliser to secure his side a 2-2 draw a minute later.

Both sides remain at their positions -- Dortmund 15th, a point away from relegation whereas Paderbron stay at ninth.

Elsewhere, Leverkusen reaped their fifth win of the season to jump from sixth spot to fourth following a 3-1 victory over Hannover. Stefan Kiessling smoothed the way for the win as he ended his 860-minute goal drought. Hannover slipped from fourth to fifth.

Berlin sealed a 2-1 victory over newly promoted Cologne. Berlin's Martin Ndjeng scored the winner with a deflected free-kick in the closing period. Berlin move to 13th whilst Cologne slump to 11th.

Mainz and Freiburg shared the spoils following a 2-2 draw. Mainz sit in eighth and Freiburg at 14th place.