Ten-man Werder Bremen on Saturday won a thriller against newly- promoted Hoffenheim at home while German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich was snubbed 0-1 at Hannover.

In a nail-biting thriller that was fast and furious from the word go, Bremen, last season's German Budesliga runners-up, won out 5-4 in the end after leading 4-2 in a six- goal first half.

Hoffenheim, down 1-4 after half an hour, clawed three goals back only to lose out to an 81st minute winning goal from Mesut Oezil.

By this point, Bremen were down to 10 men. German international Per Mertesacker was sent off after a professional foul in the 61st minute.

Hoffenheim - the name translates as "home of hopes" - lived up their name. They continued to play with three at the front, even as they lagged by three goals, and created numerous chances.

On Saturday, Bayern went down to their second league defeat in a row, losing 1-0 at Hannover 96.

A week after being thrashed 5-2 at home by Bremen, FC Bayern lost out to a 23rd-minute goal from Szabolcs Huszti. It was the first home win against the Munich side in 20 years for Hannover.

Bayern coach Juergen Klinsmann brought on Franck Ribery after the break, but although Bayern stepped up the tempo they had little to show for it in concrete terms.

Hamburger SV are back on top of the Bundesliga, thanks to a 1-0 home win against Moenchengladbach.

Mladen Petric nabbed what would prove to be the match winner in the 12th minute for a home side playing well below their best. Gladbach, however, rarely looked like finding a way back into the contest themselves as they went down to their third league defeat in a row.

With 13 points in hands, Hamburg took the top place at the German top league standings.

Cottbus celebrated their first victory of the new season after they beat Hersa Berlin 1-0 at an away match.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2008)