Sinsheim: Hoffenheim fought back from an early goal down to strike four times in 23 minutes and crush Werder Bremen 4-1 on Saturday, in an impressive show of attacking football at the start of the season.
Werder, on course to qualify for the Champions League group stage after beating Italy's Sampdoria 3-1 in the first leg of a playoff, took a third minute lead when captain Torsten Frings converted a penalty awarded for handball.
The hosts then burst into action, netting four goals before the break through Demba Ba, teenager Peniel Mlapa, Vedad Ibisevic and a well-struck Sejad Salihovic free kick as their opponents imploded on the first matchday of the new season.
Champions Bayern Munich needed a stoppage time goal from Bastian Schweinsteiger to beat VfL Wolfsburg 2-1 on Friday in the season opener.
Schalke 04, last season's runners-up, take on Hamburg SV later on Saturday.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, August 21, 2010, 23:32