For the last six seasons, FC Bayern München have dominated the Bundesliga. This time around, it looks like things are going to be a whole lot tighter. The defending champions were held to a surprise 1:1 draw at the Allianz Arena by SC Freiburg, with leaders Borussia Dortmund extending their advantage to four points. Then, Borussia Mönchengladbach joined the party.

Due to time constraints, this is going to be a quickfire review. For those who took part in this week's SCR predictions challenge, you can check out the results here: https://scorum.com/en-us/football/@fussballchef/bundesliga-predictions-challenge-week-10-results

The Matches

VfB Stuttgart v Eintracht Frankfurt

In a one-sided encounter at the Mercedes-Benz-Arena, Stuttgart and new coach Markus Weinzierl were but to the sword by an energetic and inspired Frankfurt side.

Goals from Frenchman Sébastien Haller and Luka Jović gave Die Adler a comfortable first half lead, and a third a minute from time from sub Nicolai Müller completed a comprehensive 3:0 win for Adi Hütter's side.

You can read a more detailed report of what was my match pick of the week here.

Stuttgart 0: 3 Frankfurt (Haller 11., Jović 32., Müller 89.)

FC Bayern München v SC Freiburg

FC Bayern München's scratchy season continued, as they were held 1:1 at home by a well-drilled SC Freiburg. Having blown hot and cold for most of the contest, Bayern looked to have sealed the three points when Serge Gnabry capped a nice run into the box with a smart finish, but Freiburg had other ideas. A minute from time, the Bavarian defence was found wanting, with Lucas Högel netting an equaliser for the Christian Streich's team.

You can read the more detailed report on this match in my dedicated blog Red Ramblings.

FC Bayern München 1 (Gnabry 80.) SC Freiburg 1 (Högel 89.)

FC Schalke 04 v Hannover 96

Schalke have struggled for wins in the Bundesliga this season, and will be relieved to finally get a solid show under their belt. Domenico Tedesco's side had a first half goal disallowed, and there was a sense of welcome relief when Nabil Bentaleb opened the scoring after 57 minutes from the penalty spot.

Hannover did shock the home crowd after 70 minutes when Henrik Weydandt netted an equaliser against the run of play, but within a minute Swiss international Breel Embolo reestablished Schalke's advantage. When Mark Uth finally opened his goalscoring account five minutes from time, the three points were safely in the bag.

Mark Uth wraps up the win for Schalke with his first goal for his new side

FC Schalke 04 3 (Bentaleb pen 57., Embolo 71., Uth 85.) Hannover 96 1 (Weydandt 70.)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

Bayer Leverkusen continue to put themselves forward as the most inconsistent team in Germany. Hot off the back of stunning 6:2 and 5:0 wins in Bremen and Mönchengladbach, Heiko Herrlich's side were completely off the boil against an energetic and hard-working TSG Hoffenheim.

The first half started out evenly enough, with Riess Nelson's opener for Hoffe cancelled out by the in-form Karim Bellarabi. After that, it was all Hoffenheim. Brazilian Joelinton put Julian Nagelsmann's side back in front before half time, and a second half penalty from Vincenzo Grifo doubled the lead before Joelinton sealed an emphatic 4:1 win with his second goal of the afternoon.

Joelinton and friends celebrate as Hoffeheim storm to a 4:1 win in Leverkusen

Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1 (Bellarabi 30.) TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 4 (Nelson 19, Joelinton 34., 73., Grifo pen 49.)

FC Augsburg v 1. FC Nürnberg

This was a dramatic Bavarian derby, with visitors Nürnberg pulling out all the stops to snatch a 2:2 draw. Twice the home side were in front. Alfreð Finnbogason opened the scoring after eleven minutes to give his team a 1:0 half-time lead, but it was in the second half that the match just took off.

Alexander Fuchs equalised for Der Club, only for Jonathan Schmid to launch a terrific effort that left SCF 'keeper Andrea Luthe clutching at thin air. Augsburg were favourites to take all three points, but right at death, Michael Köllner's side snatched what was an arguably deserved equaliser.

FC Augsburg 2 (Finnbogason 11., Schmid 59.) 1. FC Nürnberg 2 (Fuchs 54., Mühl 88.)

VfL Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund have been banging in the goals of late, but this was a tough, hard-earned three pointer for the Ruhrpott side. Marco Reus gave the visitors the lead after 27 minutes, in what was a pretty even contest.

Marco Reus is mobbed by his team mates after scoring Borussia Dortmund's winner in Wolfsburg

Both sides managed to get a dozen shots each, but the Wolves were not quite sharp enough to fashion an equaliser. A win is a win though, and with Bayern dropping two points it meant that Lucien Favre's men would extend their top of the table lead to four points.

VfL Wolfsburg 0 Borussia Dortmund 1 (Reus 27.)

Hertha BSC v RB Leipzig

Hertha were unbeaten at home and Leipzig were unbeaten in nine outings, and something had to give - but this was something of a surprise. The Berliners were never really in the contest, and were well below par against a Leipzig outfit that is slowly gathering some real momentum.

A seventh-minute strike from Timo Werner gave Die Roten Bullen the lead, and they never really looked back from there. Pál Dárdai's side had opportunities, but failed to take them. Leipzig on the other hand were clinical. Werner added a second after 53 minutes, and Brazilian youngster Matheus Cunha sealed the deal with stunning effort with 15 minutes remaining.

Hertha BSC 0 RB Leipzig 3 (Werner 7., 63., Cunha 75.)

Borussia Mönchengladbach v Fortuna Düsseldorf

This local derby was a game of two halves, with an insipid-looking Gladbach unable to breach their opponents' line in what was a dull and frankly forgettable first half.

Dieter Hecking's men got a crucial break three minutes after the restart, when VAR confirmed a harsh handball decision against Kaan Ayhan. Thorgan Hazard just about beat Michael Rensing from the penalty spot, and that was that. Jonas Hofmann added a second after 67 minutes, and Hazard completed his brace eight minutes from time to complete what was a convincing if slightly flattering win to take Die Fohlen up to second place behind Dortmund, and ahead of Bayern on goal difference.

Thorgan Hazard opens the scoring for Gladbach from the penalty spot

Düsseldorf, meanwhile, are now sitting at the foot of the table with Stuttgart.

Borussia Mönchengladbach 3 (Hazard pen 48., 82., Hofmann 67.) Fortuna Düsseldorf 0

1.FSV Mainz 05 v Werder Bremen

The Sunday evening fixture pitted struggling Mainz against high-flying Werder, producing another minor shock. For the second week in a row, Florian Kohfeldt's side looked off the boil, and an error from Swedish defender Niklas Moisander allowed Jean-Philippe Mateta to sneak in a give the home side a 25th minute lead.

Werder did have chances to equalise, but Mainz doubled their lead six minutes into the second half through another Jean-Philippe, Gbamin. The 40-year-old Claudio Pizarro pulled a goal back for the men in green twelve minutes from time, but Mainz closed the game out well to claim a crucial three points.

1.FSV Mainz 05 2 (Mateta 25., Gbamin 51.) Werder Bremen 1 (Pizarro 78.)

For more Bundesliga fun stuff, check out my Little Bundesliga Book project. Copies of the 2016 pocket book are still available, with the aim of raising funds for a new edition at the end of this season.