Bundesbag Week 6: Koller gets his cards

When Thomas Tuchel took charge of Mainz on the eve of the Bundesliga season, eyebrows were raised and concerns expressed. What chance would a newly promoted club have? What chaos must they be in to change managers before a ball is kicked? Well, it looks as though we needn't have worried. Tuchel seems to have things under control and in the 18-year-old Andre Schurlle, they may have uncovered a gem.

The German Under-19 international forward was promoted from the second team for this season and has played in every game so far. On Saturday Schurlle scored his first goals of the campaign at Bochum. The first was to draw his side level after going 2-1 down from strikes by Mimoun Azaouagh and Diego Klimowicz for the home team. He scored once again to clinch three valuable points on the road. The value of the win can't be understated. A good season for Mainz would still see them not far off the relegation zone. So an away win at Bochum would be seen as priceless when you consider that their opponents are a familiar fixture in the Bundesliga's nether regions.

Unfortunately, the Bochum board arrived at the same conclusion and consequently sacked their coach Marcel Koller. "We owe Marcel Koller a lot," said club sports director Thomas Ernst "We are in our fourth consecutive year in the top flight under him and that had not happened since our first relegation in 1993. We wish him all the best." Unfortunately, the draft press release to be used in the event that the board decided to sack him after their meeting on Sunday was published a day early on the official website. Koller didn't know about it but it's still a shitty way to treat someone. Needless to say the club were embarrassed and apologised. Let's hope Koller finds another job soon but it should be said that from what I've seen of Bochum this season, they are rubbish and will struggle to stay up.

The result put Mainz in sixth place, level on points with Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich. The Hoff are back in the groove and came back from 2-0 down away from home to win 4-2 with goals from Sejad Salihovic, Maicosuel, Denbar Ba and Chinedu Obasi. Their opponents? Who else but 'Gladbach.

Bayern faced local rivals Nurnburg who were buoyant after their first win of the season, last week. However, goals from Ivica Olic and Daniel van Buyten saw off their neighbours in a workmanlike performance.

Elsewhere, Hannover seem to be shoring themselves up defensively under new coach Andreas Bergmann. They managed a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund who just can't seem to get going this season. Frankfurt are at it again. This time thwarting leaders Hamburg with a 1-1 draw. Wolsfburg carried on after their stout work in the Champions League and beat Schalke. Edin Dzeko scored both goals in a 2-1 win at Gelsenkirchen, much to Felix Magath's chagrin. Bayer Leverkusen v Werder Bremen promised goals goals goals on Sunday but delivered zzz as the game ended 0-0. Hertha are in trouble, Freiburg are in dreamland. The Bundesliga new boys thrashed the Berliners at the Olympic Stadium 4-0. A brilliant result for Robin Dutta's men but wither Berlin? A dreadful result.

Koln were clearly stung by the Bundesbag's scathing criticism and responded with a 2-0 win at Stuttgart. Sebastian Freis and Wilfried Sanou scored the goals. Sanou's came courtesy of a moment of colossal clownary by Jens Lehmann. The Stuttgart keeper took possession of the ball and decided to advance up the field with it in order to launch the ball deeper into the Koln half. Only problem was that he was not aware of the presence of Sanou behind him. Sanou promptly took the ball off him and stroked it into an empty net from 25 yards. Presumably there was no call from Lehmann's team mates which tells you something. The former Arsenal man was so miffed that he decided to drown his sorrows in Munich at the Oktoberfest. Unfortunately for him, he did so without the club's permission and has been disciplined and dropped. One suspects that communication should be top of Marcus Babbel's ever growing list of things to do.

In 2.Bundesliga, Union Berlin are back on top of the table after a sensational 5-4 victory against Paderborn at An der alten Försterei. The Iron Union are still unbeaten after six games.

That's it. Results and tables here. Follow the Bundesbag on Twitter.