Livorno 0-2 Juventus

A goal each from Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez secured a comfortable 2-0 win for Juventus against Livorno on Sunday.

The home side battled bravely for an hour until the Spanish striker volleyed home from Paul Pogba's cross, before teeing up Tevez to drill home a second with fifteen minutes left to play.

The result sends defending champions Juventus to the summit for the time being, with unbeaten Roma not playing until Monday.

Antonio Conte's men have now kept five consecutive clean sheets in the league and are two points ahead of Rudi Garcia's charges.

Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal, who had to gain Fifa clearance to play after pulling out of both of his country's recent friendlies, stepped into a makeshift Juventus defence, with Stephan Lichtsteiner, Andrea Barzagli and striker Sebastian Giovinco all out injured, while Leonardo Bonucci and Angelo Ogbonna were suspended.

Livorno made four changes to the side that lost 2-0 at Inter last time out, with Andrea Coda, Leandro Rinaudo, Leandro Greco and Innocent Emeghara coming in for Giuseppe Gemiti, Nahuel Valentini, Alfred Duncan and the suspended Paulinho.

After a quiet opening 20 minutes, Llorente had the visitors' first clear-cut opportunity, heading over the crossbar from a Simone Padoin cross.

Emeghara pulled the trigger from the edge of the penalty area at the other end five minutes later, but his effort was deflected high and wide for a corner.

Paul Pogba forced Livorno goalkeeper Francesco Bardi to tip over his crossbar on the half-hour mark with a powerful drive from 20 yards, but Juve were struggling to find their flow against a disciplined home defence.

And the hosts almost broke the deadlock three minutes later, but Emeghara's chipped attempt drifted wide of the target amid suspicions of offside.

Kwadwo Asamoah fancied his chances from distance, but the Ghanaian saw his effort pushed around the post by Bardi eight minutes before the interval.

Greco went into the referee's book after 53 minutes for simulation in the penalty area after a collision with Vidal, but replays suggested it was a harsh decision.

Juve went ahead in the 63rd minute as Llorente met a Pogba cross from the right to send a right-footed volley into the top right-hand corner of the net from the centre of the penalty area.

Tevez drilled just wide of the left-hand post as the visitors went in search of a second, but Livorno were holding firm as they clung onto the belief that they could still take something from the encounter.

However, Tevez killed off any lingering hopes that remained for the hosts as he fired home a low effort from 16 yards after good work in the area by Llorente, before Pogba struck the post in the dying minutes as Juve finished strongly.

Borussia Dortmund 0-3 Bayern Munich

The midfielder – who made the switch to reigning champions Bayern for a €37 million fee in the close-season – came off the bench to light up a tepid encounter between the title rivals and break the deadlock before Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller added late goals to produce a scoreline that flattered the visitors. 

Both sides were missing key players for the fixture, with Dortmund particularly hindered with their regular back four all unavailable. 

In a first half bereft of chances, Robert Lewandowski, who was also linked with Bayern in the transfer window, wasted the best opportunity when he fired over from close range. 

Gotze's neat finish after 66 minutes finally brought the game to life before Robben and Muller also netted late on to extend Bayern's unbeaten Bundesliga record to 38 matches and open up a seven-point gap over Dortmund, last season's runners-up. 

Jurgen Klopp handed a debut to centre-back Manuel Friedrich with Dortmund's usual back four missing from the starting XI. Franck Ribery was absent with a rib injury for Bayern, while Gotze was only named as a substitute against his former club. 

Klopp's charges started brightly and Lewandowski should have hit the target when he fired his shot on the turn over the crossbar when unmarked in the area. 

The hosts continued to look lively and Marco Reus broke clear of the defence shortly before the half-hour mark and stung the palms of Manuel Neuer with a left-foot strike. 

Bayern had shown little going forward until good work on the left from Robben led to Mario Mandzukic's acrobatic effort being beaten away from Roman Weidenfeller. 

The same combination then nearly handed the away side the lead against the run of play on 38 minutes, but Mandzukic failed to make clean contact with Robben's teasing cross into the six-yard area. 

The first half came to an end in tempestuous circumstances as Mandzukic reacted angrily to a late challenge from Kevin Grosskreutz, with the latter lucky to avoid a red card when he appeared to aim a headbutt at the Croatian. 

Neither side was able to put their stamp on the second half, until Pep Guardiola introduced Gotze to a chorus of boos from the home fans. 

And the substitution paid dividends on 66 minutes when the Germany international controlled Thomas Muller's pass from the right and finished to the far corner with the outside of his boot to silence the jeers. 

Dortmund pressed for an equaliser with Henrikh Mkhitaryan firing wide from close range and Reus' low drive forcing a superb reflex save from Neuer. 

However, Bayern ended the game as a contest in the 85th minute when Robben broke clear of the Dortmund defence and applied a sublime chip over Weidenfeller. 

And there was further cause for Bayern celebration just two minutes later. Robben sprayed the ball to Philipp Lahm and his centre was turned home by Muller as Bayern secured their first triumph in Dortmund since 2009.

Most of my grey hair is from this week

Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp says "80 per cent of his grey" hair was caused by how his side's injury crisis worsened ahead of Saturday's clash with Bayern Munich.

The German giants saw Mats Hummels and Marcel Schmelzer pick up injuries on international duty to leave them without any of their first-choice defenders.

And Klopp has spoken of the grief that this week has caused him, while dismissing Bayern's own injury worries, with Franck Ribery missing out thanks to a rib problem.

“I've picked up 80 per cent of my grey hairs this week,” the 46-year-old joked at a press conference.

“The situation is not great, especially when one is in such a phase with eight games left until Christmas. But we already had a little time to get used to the idea.

"Well, you have to say that every single team in this world would miss a Franck Ribery, no doubt about that.

"On the other hand, the replacement might be Mario Gotze, plus [Thomas] Muller and [Arjen] Robben on his side. Then they have [Mario] Mandzukic, Toni Kroos and so on and so forth. The problems Bayern have are bearable.

"Franck Ribery is an outstanding player who is going to be replaced by another outstanding player."

Klopp was reluctant to discuss his plans for restructuring his line-up to compensate for the absences, instead imploring his team to give their all on the pitch in order to challenge Bayern on Saturday.

"I have complex considerations. But I did not intend you to communicate the ideas,” he noted.

“We will have to play an exceptional game to put the opponent in out of the way before problems arise."

Bayern Munich 3-0 Augsburg

Franck Ribery was on target as Bayern Munich made Bundesliga history with a convincing 3-0 win over Augsburg on Saturday.

Last season's treble winners surpassed the mark set by Hamburg in 1983 to reach 37 games unbeaten thanks to excellent first-half finishes from Jerome Boateng and Franck Ribery and a stoppage time penalty from substitute Thomas Muller.

Augsburg performed creditably in the early stages of the second period but failed to extend Germany number one Manuel Neuer in the Bayern goal.

The afternoon was made sweeter for home fans at the Allianz Arena when news filtered through of a 2-1 defeat for title rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wolfsburg, meaning Bayern's advantage at the Bundesliga summit is extended to four points.

Arjen Robben returned from a groin complaint to be named among the Bayern substitutes, while Augsburg were without Dominik Reinhardt and Panagiotis Vlachodimos due to tendon problems.

Bayern immediately pushed their visitors back and, in the third minute, Augsburg goalkeeper Marvin Hitz dashed out of his area to thwart Mario Mandzukic before scampering back to touch Javi Martinez's speculative follow-up behind.

Replays suggesting Mandzukic was offside when challenging Hitz for the loose ball leant an air of controversy as Bayern scored from the resulting corner – Dante heading on towards the back-post where Boateng swivelled to thrash a left-footed shot into the top corner.

Pep Guardiola's side almost doubled their advantage in the 16th minute when Ribery's shot from the left-hand edge of the box skidded past the far post as Mario Gotze just failed to find the decisive touch.

Augsburg had started to feel their way into the game, the industrious Andre Hahn at the centre of their good play, but when Paul Verhaegh brought down Ribery 20 yards out three minutes before the break, the France international punished them with an unstoppable free-kick.

Bayern looked to press home their advantage early in the second period but Ribery and Gotze were guilty of over-elaborating on the final pass.

In the 52nd minute, Mandzukic managed to find Ribery in the area but he fired his attempt wide.

Augsburg boss Markus Weinzierl then replaced Halil Altintop with Arkadiusz Milik and the new man might have made an instant impact when David Alaba blocked his shot from Hahn's lofted pass.

That move heralded the visitors' most productive spell of the match, Hahn dragging wide from 18 yards in the 64th minute, but Bayern could have made the points safe when Martinez was left unmarked to head wide from a Gotze corner before the latter made way for Robben.

The Dutch winger produced a lively cameo and twice game close to finding the net, but it was fellow replacement Muller who confidently converted from 12 yards after Matthias Ostrzolek was harshly penalised for handling Robben's cross.

Bayern now turn their attentions towards the eagerly anticipated trip to Dortmund after the international break, and do so from a position of strength.

Wolfsburg 2-1 Borussia Dortmund

A stunning strike from Ivica Olic saw Wolfsburg beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on Saturday and condemn Jurgen Klopp's side to a second consecutive defeat this week.

Free-kicks from Marco Reus and Ricardo Rodriguez either side of half-time saw the game finely poised at 1-1 before Olic sent a tremendous curled effort past Roman Weidenfeller to earn Wolfsburg all three points.

Reus struck another set-piece against the post late on, but the home side held on to secure their fourth straight league win.

The defeat for Dortmund is the team's second in the Bundesliga this season and follows up the 1-0 loss to Arsenal in midweek.

Wolfsburg made one change from the side that won at Eintracht Frankfurt last Saturday, with Daniel Caligiuri replacing the injured Diego.

Long-term absentee Bas Dost was named among the substitutes after recovering from an ankle injury.

The visitors were boosted by the return of defender Mats Hummels, who missed the Arsenal game with a thigh injury, while Jakub Blaszczykowski was ruled out with a gastrointestinal infection.

Dortmund coach Klopp had called for a reaction after Wednesday's Champions League setback, and he will have surely been pleased by his team's bright start to this game.

Hummels gave the hosts an early scare after five minutes when he found himself on the end of a whipped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cross from the right, but could not keep his header down.

Aubameyang was at the centre of things again four minutes later, breaking free of his marker inside the box before firing just wide.

Wolfsburg had chances of their own, though, and nearly took the lead just after 20 minutes through former Dortmund forward Ivan Perisic, who headed just wide.

Dieter Hecking's men began to take the game to Dortmund as the half wore on. First, Slobodan Medojevic volleyed wide before Patrick Ochs had a long-range effort tipped over the bar.

Neven Subotic was carried off on a stretcher just before the break after landing awkwardly, but Klopp's worries were soon eased when Reus stepped up to curl a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner of the net on the stroke of half-time.

The goal predictably boosted Dortmund's confidence, with Reus and Aubameyang both looking lively, the latter wasting a great opportunity 10 minutes into the second half.

Some great work from Henrikh Mkhitaryan saw the Armenian cut the ball back to the former Saint-Etienne striker, who scuffed his shot wide from 12 yards.

Dortmund were left to rue that miss just two minutes later when Rodriguez's teasing 35-yard free-kick from the right eluded everyone before bouncing past Weidenfeller.

Three minutes later things got worse for Klopp's side when Olic received the ball on the right flank before cutting inside and sending a vicious left-footed strike in off the post from just outside the box.

The goal shocked Dortmund, who came close to hauling themselves level 15 minutes from the end when Reus saw his free-kick come back off the post.

Wolfsburg's nerves were tested late on with Robert Lewandowski having several penalty appeals turned down, although the home side could have extended their lead at the death when Perisic raced away from the Dortmund defence before firing agonisingly wide. 

The result leaves BVB four points behind Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga ahead of the sides' meeting following the international break.

Bayern without Robben for Viktoria Plzen clash

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola will have to make do without the services of Arjen Robben for this week's Champions League game against Viktoria Plzen as the Dutchman remains sidelined due to injury.

Robben picked up a hamstring problem against Hertha Berlin last week and consequently missed the 2-1 Bundesliga win over Hoffenheim on Saturday.

The 29-year-old was initially expected to be match fit again in time for Tuesday's Group D clash against Plzen, but Bayern have now announced on their official website that Robben will remain in Munich to continue working on an individual training programme.

The winger has been a key figure for Bayern so far this season, scoring eight goals in 15 appearances in all competitions.

Bayern currently sit atop of their Champions League section with nine points from three games and will qualify for the knockout stages with a win over Plzen.

Hoffenheim 1-2 Bayern

Bayern Munich equalled a 30-year Bundesliga record by winning 2-1 at Hoffenheim on Saturday.

In avoiding defeat, Pep Guardiola's side stretched their unbeaten league run to 36 matches, equalling the record set by Hamburg between January 1982 and January 1983.

Niklas Sule gave the hosts the lead in the 34th minute following a mistake from Manuel Neuer.

However, Bayern equalised in fortuitous fashion five minutes later when Franck Ribery's free-kick was deflected in by Mario Mandzukic for his eighth league goal of the season and Thomas Muller netted the winner 15 minutes from time.

The victory means Bayern climb back to the top of the table and set a new club record for their longest unbeaten start to a Bundesliga season, surpassing the old mark of 10 matches set at the start of the 1968-69 campaign.

Hoffenheim made one change from last week's win at Hannover, as Kevin Volland replaced Eugen Polanski, while Dante and Javi Martinez returned for Bayern after respective ankle and groin injuries.

After a quiet opening to proceedings, Philipp Lahm and Muller were both denied by Hoffenheim goalkeeper Koen Casteels within the space of two minutes.

Lahm was kept out at the near post from the tightest of angles in the 15th minute before the Belgian flung himself to his left to parry Muller's powerful drive from the edge of the area.

The visitors began to dominate possession and Mario Mandzukic diverted the ball wide from David Alaba's cut-back.

Muller and Martinez then got in each other's way while attempting to convert a Bastian Schweinsteiger free-kick, with the ball trickling wide after rebounding off the latter's thigh.

Despite Bayern's dominance, the hosts took the lead following a mistake from Neuer.

The Germany international made a mess of what appeared to be a routine catch from Kai Herdling's left-wing corner and Sule made no mistake when presented with an empty net from six yards.

Hoffenheim’s lead did not last long as Ribery's free-kick from 20 yards took a wicked deflection off Mandzukic and wrong-footed Casteels on its way into the bottom left-hand corner.

But the homeside went close through Volland twice at the start of the seond half, after he firstly volleyed over Sebastian Rudy's deep cross before seeing a 20-yard effort parried wide by Neuer.

Muller then scored what proved to be the winner from close range after being set up by Ribery's quick turn and pass.

The Bayern forward then wasted a golden chance to add a third four minutes from time when he somehow headed Schweinsteiger's cross wide from six yards, but it mattered little as Bayern held on to extend their incredible unbeaten run.

Borussia Dortmund 6-1 Stuttgart

Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick as Borussia Dortmund beat Stuttgart 6-1 at Signal Iduna Park to move top of the Bundesliga on Friday.

The convincing victory saw the hosts equal a club record of six consecutive home wins, a feat they last achieved a decade ago.

But they had to do it the hard way after falling behind to Karim Haggui's 13th-minute header.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos provided a prompt response, his first goal for the club, and Marco Reus completed the comeback before Lewandowski took centre stage after the interval by netting an 18-minute treble.

He looked to have got himself a fourth but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's deflected effort had already crossed the line to seal an emphatic triumph for Dortmund, who will hope that Hoffenheim can pull off an upset when they welcome Bayern Munich on Saturday.

Jurgen Klopp made two changes from the side that were victorious against Schalke in the Ruhr derby, with Sokratis and Jakub Blaszczykowski replacing Neven Subotic and Aubameyang.

Georg Niedermeier, Martin Harnik and Ibrahima Traore lost their places in Stuttgart's starting XI following the 1-1 draw with Nuremberg last time out.

Moritz Leitner was called in to feature against his parent club, while there were also starting berths for 17-year-old Timo Werner and defender Gotoku Sakai.

The visitors stunned the home crowd when Haggui's header looped over Nuri Sahin on the line to put Stuttgart in front against the run of play early on.

Stuttgart's joy was short lived, however, as Sokratis connected well with a Sahin corner to power a header past Sven Ulreich after 18 minutes.

The goals continued to flow and the turnaround was complete for Klopp's men two minutes later as Reus made no mistake with his left-footed effort after evading the attentions of Haggui.

The hosts continued to dominate, Sahin going close with a header before Lewandowski cheekily attempted to chip Ulreich from the edge of the area.

Stuttgart were incensed three minutes before the break when Werner was denied a penalty despite appearing to be bundled over inside the area by Kevin Grosskreutz.

Lewandowski then showed his lethal touch after the break to score twice in as many minutes. First he latched onto a neat Reus backheel to angle his effort into the far corner before he was set clear a minute later by an expertly crafted Henrikh Mkhitaryan throughball.

The Poland international was at his clinical best, first holding off Sakai and then Haggui, to fire home.

He came close to registering a third nine minutes later but saw his fierce effort parried by Ulreich as Stuttgart struggled to find a route back into the match.

Lewandowski did claim the match ball after 72 minutes as Ulreich could only force Blaszczykowski's effort onto the post following a quick breakaway and the Pole was on hand for a simple close-range finish.

There was still time for Aubameyang to get his second goal in as many games eight minutes from time as Dortmund made it four wins in a row in all competitions. 

Guardiola has not changed Bayern

Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben has played down the impact coach Pep Guardiola has had at the Allianz Arena by claiming he has not changed much at the club.

The former Barcelona boss took the reins from treble-winning coach Jupp Heynckes at the Bavarians in the summer, guiding them to the summit of both the Bundesliga and Champions League Group D tables so far.

And, despite admitting that Guardiola has changed a "little bit" from his predecessor, Robben says that the Spaniard has not deviated too far from Heynckes' blueprint for success.

The former Real Madrid winger told FAZ: "You don't have to exaggerate everything. Of course, he's changed a little bit, but he has not changed Bayern."

The 29-year-old, who has started seven of the club's 10 Bundesliga fixtures this season, was unhappy when benched by Heynckes last season but the Dutchman seems content to be denied starting berths under Guardiola.

"So far, we have had many injuries, so it's good to have started to strong," Robben said.

"But of course that will happen when everyone is so fit. I don't think it's that bad. Staying on the bench isn't a problem."

Robben, who turns 30 in January, went on to fire an ominous warning to Bundesliga defenders, claiming they should not expect him to be any less of a menace despite his advancing years.

He added: "I don't have the feeling that I have to change my game because I won't be as quick. 

"I still have the feeling that I have two or three top years ahead of me. Especially with this team"

Borussia Dortmund-Stuttgart Match Preview

Borussia Dortmund will be looking to move top of the Bundesliga table when they welcome Stuttgart to the Westfalenstadion on Friday evening.

With leaders Bayern Munich not in action until Saturday, Jurgen Klopp’s men are heavy 27/100 (1.27)favourites with Betway to maintain the pressure by moving into pole position with a victory.However, the visitors are unbeaten in seven league games since Thomas Schneider took over after their disastrous start to the campaign and are available at 9/1 (10.00) to cause an upset against last season’s runners-up.

Four of Die Schwaben’s last five Bundesliga matches have resulted in draws, and you can get odds of 22/5 (5.40) on them claiming a point against this opposition for the fifth time in six encounters.

Having lost their first three league games of the season under Bruno Labbadia, the visitors acted quickly in promoting youth coach Schneider to the top job and were instantly rewarded with a 6-2 win over Hoffenheim in his first Bundesliga match in charge.Despite being a former defender, the new boss has continued with an attacking set-up that has seen his side continue their prolific form to hit 17 goals in seven league games, and this should make for another entertaining encounter against the Bundesliga’s top-scoring side.

Last year’s 4-4 draw is the most memorable recent fixture between two sides who have averaged over three goals a game in their last 14 exciting encounters, and fans should not have to wait long for the goalmouth action to commence on Friday.

At least two first-half goals have been scored in seven of Stuttgart’s 10 league games this season, while that figure has also been matched in 10 of Dortmund’s last 12 on home soil, so odds of 19/20 (1.95) are not to be missed on over 1.5 going in when they come face to face.

I am not leaving Bayern

Thomas Muller has insisted that he has no intention of leaving Bayern Munich as he is happy with life at the Bundesliga champions.

The Germany international, 24, was recently linked with a move to Barcelona after visiting the Catalan capital, but has stressed that a transfer to the Spanish powerhouse is not an option at this stage of his career.

"I was in Barcelona for personal reasons, but these things immediately appear online nowadays," Muller told Sky90.

"Of course, it is flattering when you're being linked to a club like Barcelona. 

"I am very happy at Bayern, though. Bayern mean a lot to me and have a place in my heart. I hope to stay at Bayern for many more years to come."

Muller's contract with the Bavarian outfit runs until June 2017, and has been only one of a few German players to be linked with Gerardo Martino's men recently, including Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels.

Mysterious figures at Bayern Munich

A group of mysterious figures caused a stir in the crowd at Bayern Munich's clash with Hertha Berlin at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

The 11 unknown men, each dressed in black robes and sat in a line, were spotted making strange synchronised gestures during the league match, which Bayern won 3-2.Situated six rows from the pitch just beside the halfway line in the stand opposite the broadcasting gantry, the group was also seen by TV viewers all across the world.

One fan, Torsten Schmidt, said: "It was very weird. They sat very still for a long time but then would hold their hands up together, or stand up in unison and then sit down again. Everyone near me was very confused. Some people laughed, some looked astonished. It was just very weird."

A key feature of their clothing was a circular symbol on the chest of their robes. It clearly resembled the logo spotted at a series of linked unexplained event over the past week.The same symbol has been seen at locations across the globe, starting with the appearance of a hologram on Rio de Janeiro's Sugarloaf mountain on Sunday, 20 October.

A three-metre football displaying the sign then gouged a huge hole in the turf at London's amateur football hub Hackney Marshes 24 hours later, while New York City's Times Square was struck by similar images on the tourist spot's world famous digital billboards.

Further sightings of the symbol have been witnessed in the Copacabana neighbourhood of Rio and on the Brazilian city's Santa Maria hill, but this is the first time that the mystery has spread to a professional football arena. Also repeatedly spotted at the locations has been the message: #WINNERTAKESEARTH

Match Report Schalke 1-3 Borussia Dortmund

Goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nuri Sahin and Jakub Blaszczykowski ensured Borussia Dortmund took the Ruhr derby spoils in a 3-1 win over Schalke.

In a game delayed slightly by crowd disturbance, Dortmund atoned for double defeat to their fierce rivals last season and maintained pace with Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich at the Bundesliga summit.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang turned home in the 14th-minute after a typically energetic start from the visitors, who continued to dominate after taking the lead.

However, Schalke were gifted a chance for an equaliser against the run of play on the half-hour mark as Neven Subotic was penalised for a foul on Christian Fuchs in the penalty area.

Kevin-Prince Boateng stepped up from 12 yards, but was denied by Roman Weidenfeller - the Dortmund keeper's fourth penalty save from the last eight he has faced in Bundesliga games.

A stunning strike from Nuri Sahin doubled Dortmund's lead, but they were pegged back by teenage substitute Max Meyer's third goal of the season.

As Schalke pushed on for a winner though, Jakub Blaszczykowski netted on the break with 16 minutes remaining to seal Dortmund's win.

Jurgen Klopp made just one change to the side that beat Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday, replacing Blaszczykowski with Aubameyang, while former Dortmund loanee Boateng returned to Schalke's team in one of four changes.

The start of the game was delayed by 10 minutes as sections of the Dortmund support appeared to throw flares onto the pitch and towards nearby home fans.

Once the action did get under way, Dortmund exploded into life with Marco Reus thundering a volley at Timo Hildebrand, with the visitors intercepting Schalke's attempted build-up play high up the pitch.

And they were rewarded in the 14th minute as slick interplay from Kevin Grosskreutz and Henrikh Mkhitaryan gave Reus free space on the right and he cut back for Aubameyang to tap in.

Hildebrand had to be alert to save another Aubameyang effort soon after, but Schalke were handed a way back into the game as Subotic was adjudged to have fouled Fuchs in the box. However, Weidenfeller was on hand to spring to his right and keep Boateng's penalty out.

The save opened the game up, but Schalke were unable to equalise with Roman Neustadter spurning a good chance from Fuchs' corner late in the half.

And they were made to pay just five minutes after the break, Sahin receiving the ball 20 yards out and lashing an effort across Hildebrand.

Subotic denied Julian Draxler with a brave block, but they halved the deficit just after the hour mark as Meyer swept home, having been on the pitch less than a minute.

But Klopp will have been happy with a change of his own 10 minutes later, as Blaszczykowski latched onto Mkhitaryan's throughball to slot past Hildebrand and restore the two-goal cushion.

Weidenfeller was forced to tip away Draxler's fierce effort in the closing stages, but Dortmund comfortably held on to take the derby bragging rights.

Report Bayern Munich 3-2 Hertha Berlin

Mario Gotze scored his first Bundesliga goal for Bayern Munich as the reigning champions beat Hertha Berlin 3-2 on Saturday afternoon.

Adrian Lopez gave Hertha an early lead, but Mario Mandzukic scored four minutes after replacing the injured Arjen Robben and then put the Bundesliga leaders in front with another header early in the second half.

Mario Gotze had come on just before the Croatia striker when Toni Kroos also picked up an injury and the midfielder made the most of his chance by scoring a third Bayern goal at the Allianz Arena.

Hertha were dangerous going forward and Anis Ben-Hatira pulled a goal back, but Pep Guardiola's side were not to be denied as they maintained their 100 per cent home record this season.

The victory ensured the European champions are just one game away from equalling Hamburg's 30-year record of 36 Bundesliga games without defeat and they were also boosted by the return of Javi Martinez, who came off the bench to make his first apperance for two months following a knee injury.

Mandzukic and defender Diego Contento dropped to the bench as Thomas Muller and Jerome Boateng returned to the starting line-up after being rested and suspended respectively for the midweek Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen.

There were two changes to the visitors' starting line-up following their win over Borussia Monchengladbach, as midfielder Tolga Cigerci and defender Nico Schulz were handed starts by coach Jos Luhukay.

And Luhukay's charges stunned Bayern just three minutes in, when the unmarked Ramos rose to meet Per Ciljan Skjelbred's corner and planted a header into the bottom-right corner of Manuel Neuer's net.

Things almost went from bad to worse for the European champions five minutes later, as Ben-Hatira's deft lob bounced down off the crossbar with Neuer beaten.

Bayern were struggling to get going until Gotze and Mandzukic replaced Kroos and Robben.

The Croatia striker took just four minutes to make his presence felt as he rose at the back post to head home Franck Ribery's free-kick.

Hertha continued to threaten and it needed a great challenge from Bastian Schweinsteiger to get across and ensure Cigerci's shot deflected over the bar.

Schweinsteiger then showed his class at the other end, six minutes after the break, as he delivered an inviting free kick, which Mandzukic met with a downward header into the far corner from 10 yards.

Kraft should really have done better and was beaten again three minutes later. This time Gotze was in the right place to head Rafinha's cross into the far corner as the Hertha keeper scrambled across in vain.

But Hertha were not finished yet and they were back in it on 57 minutes when Ben-Hatira diverted Ramos's mis-hit shot into the roof of the net.

Ramos was a thorn in Bayern's side and his long-range strike was tipped over by Neuer. He then appealed for a penalty for a push by Alaba in stoppage-time, but the referee waved play on and Bayern held on for another win.

Match Preview - Bayern München vs Hertha

The European champions last lost a league fixture in October 2012, to Bayer Leverkusen, and are now just two matches away from equalling the longest unbeaten streak in the history of German top-flight football.

That record – set by Hamburg in 1974 – was challenged by Borussia Dortmund last year, but they saw their streak ended at 31 games.

Bayern have the chance to edge closer at the Allianz Arena on Saturday in an encounter that pits the table-toppers against a Hertha side who have defied the odds to sit fourth after nine matches.

Pep Guardiola's Bayern strolled past Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday, thrashing the Czech side 5-0 in the Champions League to extend their 100 per cent record in the competition this season.

Franck Ribery scored twice, while David Alaba, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Gotze also netted in a comprehensive win for the European champions.

Bayern, who have scored 25 goals in their last eight matches in all competitions, interestingly have just one player in the top 20 of the league's scoring charts.

Their even spread of goals means only one player has scored more than three times in the Bundesliga this season, that being Croatian Mario Mandzukic with five.

Bayern striker Claudio Pizarro tore his thigh in training on Thursday and will miss at least a month, joining Xherdan Shaqiri (thigh) and Holger Badstuber (knee) on the sidelines.

Midfielder Thiago Alcantara returned to training on Thursday but is not expected to return soon as he recovers from an ankle injury.

For Hertha, the chance to play on one of the biggest stages in European football is a great reward for last season's second-tier champions.

Hertha won the division by nine points last season, inspired by the form of Brazilian midfielder Ronny, who scored 18 goals.

He already has three this season, while Tunisia forward Sami Allagui has netted five, with their goals helping Jos Luhukay's side surge into a Champions League qualifying place.

All of the club's four wins in the Bundesliga have come in the German capital, with their away record showing three draws and one defeat.