Schalke meanwhile moved sixth with a 5-1 win at promoted Paderborn on Sunday.

Freiburg took an early lead against Hoffenheim when Christian Guenter struck in the 11th minute and Janik Haberer doubled the score with a shot from the edge of the area in the 38th.

Nils Petersen finished at the far post for Freiburg's third in the 59th, giving coach Christian Streich's side a third win in the first four games of the season.

Socceroos midfielder Borrello, coming off international duty earlier in the week, was an unused substitute for Freiburg.

Freiburg are level on nine points with Borussia Dortmund, who have a better goal difference, and a point ahead of Bayern.

Dortmund trounced Bayer Leverkusen, while Leipzig and Bayern drew 1-1 in matches on Saturday.

Streich admitted to having a dispute with his keeper, Alexander Schwolow, during the first half of the game - albeit at a distance.

"I did not agree with something. He then disagreed with me," Streich told reporters.

"And then it continued. It's not always peace and joy, not even in Freiburg."

Schwolow said that in one situation he had not played the ball the way the coach had wanted, "and then I expressed my displeasure."

But "we than had eye contact again and he smiled at me again," the keeper added.

Streich meanwhile praised his team's performance.

"Today we can say we deserved to win," he said.

"It was good that we went for it from the start. Tactics are secondary, the main thing was again the mentality today."

Freiburg's win follows victories over Mainz (3-0 at home) and Paderborn (3-1 away), while losing 2-1 at home to Cologne in their last league game. They greet Augsburg next Saturday.

Hoffenheim meanwhile have slipped to 13th on four points.

Later on Sunday, Schalke came from behind in Paderborn after Oliveira Souza headed the home side ahead in the eighth minute.

Salif Sane's header in the 33rd minute levelled the score, and Suat Serdar's shot from the edge of the area was deflected in four minutes after the break to put Schalke ahead.

Amine Harat netted in the 71st, Ahmed Kutucu made it four in the 83rd, and Harat was again on target two minutes later as the floodgates opened.

Schalke are level on points with Borussia Moenchengladbach but have a better goal difference.

Paderborn slip to second last, level on one point and goal difference with Socceroo Mathew Leckie's tailenders Hertha Berlin, but with more goals scored.

Australian Associated Press