Beier seals win for BVB

The visitors created the first chance of the match in the fourth minute with Maximilian Beier missing the target with a free header from a Julian Ryerson cross.

Stuttgart responded strongly, with Ermedin Demirovic testing goalkeeper Gregor Kobel following impressive pressing with Denis Undav also forcing a save from Kobel shortly afterwards.

Moroccan star Bilal El Khannous then narrowly missed with a header from a Mittelstadt cross before Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy squandered a free header at the stroke of half-time as neither side could break the deadlock.

The BVB began the second half brightly, with Ethan Nwanieri seeing his goal ruled out for an offside during the build-up.

Both teams made double substitutions shortly as they looked to find the breakthrough in a physical battle with one of the changes Jobe Bellingham providing a neat assist for Beier to score in the 70th minute.

The home team pushed for a late equalizer but Grischa Prömel, Josha Vagnoman, El Khannouss and Leo Sauer's efforts could not find the net as Dortmund held on to claim three points and remain top of the log ahead of international break.

"Life writes the most beautiful stories," said Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac after the match.

"Maxi Beier isn't with the national team, but today he was the one who scored. I'm thrilled for him, and it ultimately shows that we have a great squad and a great player in Maxi, and that he has rewarded himself with this goal today.

"Now, he can take a few days off and work from home."

High-flying Freiburg held to draw

SC Freiburg dropped their first points of the season following a 2-2 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt at the Deutsche Bank Park.

The visitors had to come back from behind twice, with Younes Ebnoutalib tenth minute goal cancelled out by a Lionel Scherhant strike in the 34th minute before Frankfurt reclaimed the lead two minutes later via Jonathan Burkardt.

Yuito Suzuki found another equalizer for Freiburg early in the second half but neither side could find a winner as they settled for a draw.

Mainz down Monchengladbach in seven-goal fest

Mainz dug deep to beat the struggling Borussia Monchengladbach 4-3 in a thrilling contest at Borussia-Park.

Florian Neuhaus gave the home side an eleventh minute lead, but Mainz equalized just seven minutes later through closer range finish from Philip Tietz.

The visitors then took the lead at the stroke of half-time after Sheraldo Becker swept home from Anthony Caci's second assist of the match.

In the 54th minute, the home side received a penalty after a Tietz handball, however Kevin Diks missed the target but was relieved as Isac Lidberg levelled the score for Monchengladbach two minutes later.

Mainz reclaimed the lead in the 78th minute through an Eric Martel header before Danny da Costa made it 4-2 ten minutes later, with Shuto Machino pulling one back for Monchengladbach in injury time via another penalty.

Meanwhile, at the Weserstadion, Werder Bremen secured a come from behind 3-2 victory against Augsburg to move up to sixth on the league table.

Robin Fellhauer opened the scoring for the visitors in the 18th minute took take a 1-0 lead into half time before Calvin Brackelmann doubled the lead eight minutes into the second half.

Marco Grull pulled one back with a long-range strike in the 66th minute before providing late assists for Nicolas Fullkrug to equalize and for MichellWeiser's stoppage time winner.

In another clash on Saturday, Hamburg defeated FC Koln 2-1 at the Volksparkstadion thanks to goals on either side of half time from Nicolas Capaldo and Yussuf Poulsen, both from Albert Gronbaek assists.

The visitors pulled one back in the 90th minute through Ragnar Ache's header to set up a tense finale as the home side held on to claim the points.

Brighton's Pascal Gross retires from Germany international football