Keisuke Goto scored an 85th-minute winner as ten-man Freiburg beat Schalke 2-1 on Sunday to move above Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga.
The Japan forward’s decisive header secured victory after compatriot Yuito Suzuki had been dismissed for a second yellow card.
Freiburg started strongly, with Maximilian Eggestein heading home from an early corner.
The hosts controlled the opening stages, but Schalke equalised around the half-hour mark when debutant Adrian Gantenbein struck a loose ball following a corner, his effort finding the net via a deflection.
Suzuki’s dismissal after the interval threatened to derail Freiburg’s afternoon.
However, Julian Schuster’s side continued to push forward against a cautious Schalke team.
Their persistence paid off with five minutes remaining.
Vincenzo Grifo delivered a curling cross into the penalty area, where 21-year-old Goto headed beyond Loris Karius to send Freiburg into first place.
Earlier on Sunday, Borussia Moenchengladbach suffered a fifth defeat in five league matches, losing 2-1 at local rivals Cologne in a game disrupted by crowd disorder.
Play was halted for several minutes after Gladbach supporters appeared to launch fireworks towards home sections following Said El Mala’s second-half winner.
Riot police subsequently surrounded the away supporters’ block.
Gladbach sporting director Rouwen Schroeder condemned the incidents and told Dazn the club would investigate.
The result left Gladbach bottom of the table without a point, with new head coach Alexander Blessin unable to halt their losing start.
Blessin, who replaced Eugen Polanski in September, faced a demanding introduction to the derby and had a brief, tense exchange with visiting supporters after the final whistle.
He nevertheless defended his players’ commitment, saying they had given everything throughout the match.
Gladbach created the clearest early opportunity when Philipp Sander tested Marvin Schwaebe with a powerful free-kick.
Cologne took the lead through a superb finish from Isak Bergmann Johannesson.
Reacting to a loose ball on the edge of the area following a free-kick, he guided a side-footed volley into the top corner.
Joe Scally brought Gladbach level shortly before half-time, heading home before celebrating in front of the Cologne supporters.
El Mala squandered an excellent opportunity after the break, shooting straight at the goalkeeper with Marius Buelter also available as the pair broke through.
The 20-year-old, who made his Germany debut last week, redeemed himself in the 66th minute.
Cutting inside near the edge of the box, he drove a low shot into the bottom corner to restore Cologne’s advantage.
Gladbach threatened to equalise after play resumed following the crowd trouble, but Cologne held on for their second victory of the season and climbed into mid-table.
El Mala told Dazn he had been eagerly anticipating the derby for weeks and was delighted to secure all three points, promising lively celebrations in the dressing room.
