Third-placed Schalke crashed to their first defeat in seven games on Sunday as they were stunned 3-0 at home to Cologne.

With leaders Bayern Munich hosting second-placed Borussia Dortmund later, Schalke missed their chance to climb one place in the table as they were soundly beaten by Cologne, a surprise package this season, who are now fifth.

Schalke had been flying high after four Bundesliga wins and two Europa League victories before Sunday's kick-off.

Cologne's French striker Anthony Modeste claimed his sixth goal in eight games when he netted a Leonardo Bittencourt pass on the stroke of half-time at Schalke before the guests ran riot in the final ten minutes.

Cologne doubled their lead at Gelsenkirchen's Veltins Arena when defensive midfielder Yannick Gerhardt slotted home after beating three defenders to make a mockery of the home back four, on 79 minutes.

To compound Schalke's misery, substitute Simon Voller drilled his shot into the bottom right-hand corner, just a minute after coming on, to wrap up the three points on 84 minutes.

On Saturday, Borussia Moenchengladbach continued their rise up the table as they bounced back from their midweek Champions League defeat against Manchester City with a 2-0 win over Wolfsburg.

Norway midfielder Haavard Nordtvelt and French-born Guinean winger Ibrahima Traore did the damage to leave Gladbach now 13th and four points above the relegation places, having been bottom a fortnight ago, while Wolfsburg dropped to ninth.

It was their third straight league match under caretaker coach Andre Schubert after Lucien Favre's sudden resignation.

Hertha Berlin's impressive season continued as they climbed to fourth with a 3-0 win over Hamburg in the capital as Salomon Kalou gave the hosts a first-half lead, then Vedad Ibisevic netted twice in as many minutes.

Hoffenheim and VfB Stuttgart remain in the bottom four after their 2-2 draw.

Germany international winger Kevin Volland scored both goals for hosts Hoffenheim while bottom side Stuttgart rescued a point as Pirmin Schwegler scored a 90th-minute equaliser.

Hanover won their first match of the season as they defeated Werder Bremen 1-0 thanks to the only goal on 56 minutes through French-born Senegalese international Salif Sane.

Bavaria's Ingolstadt, who are in their debut Bundesliga season, defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 with late goals from Pascal Gross and Stefan Lex to take sixth spot.

On Friday, Mainz evened their record at four wins and four defeats in a thrilling 3-2 victory at promoted Darmstadt.

Mainz are in touch of the top six while Darmstadt suffered only their second defeat of the eight-game season and lie 10th.