Greuther Furth gave themselves a slender shot at avoid relegation from the Bundesliga, beating Nurnberg 1-0 to get their third win of the season, while Stuttgart beat Freiburg 2-1.
Bayern Munich stretched their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to three points after a 2-1 win over Stuttgart, but the table-toppers made heavy weather of the match, even the hosts spent most of the game with ten men.
Stuttgart began their UEFA Europa League campaign with a comfortable victory over Young Boys in Group H.
Aston Villa's nightmare start to the season continued as they crashed out of the UEFA Europa League against Rapid Vienna while Scottish hopes also suffered a triple blow.
Bundesliga strugglers Cologne earned their second win in three games after inflicting a shock 3-2 defeat on defending champions Wolfsburg.
Germany international Christian Gentner is to leave Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg and return to his former club Stuttgart during the summer.
