Bayern had won both of their opening matches and had the opportunity to capitalise on an early slip from title rivals Werder Bremen who lost 2-0 to Schalke 04 on Friday.

The league and cup winners had the better of the match but could not take their chances with Dutch forward Roy Makaay the main culprit missing an open goal from five metres out.

"We took our time getting control of the match but sometimes you have days when the ball simply won't go in," said Bayern coach Felix Magath. "We certainly had one of those days.

"We have seven points which is not the maximum but we can be happy with our tally from August."

Nuremberg, who had also collected a maximum six points, stood firm and lead the 18-strong German top-flight on goal difference.

"A 0-0 against Bayern keeps up the good atmosphere around the club," said Nuremberg coach Hans Meyer.

"It was our target to stay up near the top of the table. We have managed that although in the second half we had luck on our side."

Schalke 04 and Bayern are second and third with Bremen falling to fifth.

Despite taking a 4-0 hammering by Barcelona in a midweek friendly, Magath resisted the temptation to recall England international Owen Hargreaves to the starting line-up.

Midfielder Hargreaves was on the substitutes bench as the club punish him for trying to force a 25 million euro move to Manchester United.

Bayern started the brighter and Hasan Salihamidzic forced a fine save from Raphael Schaefer.

Near the end of the first half Makaay was presented with a glorious chance but with the goal wide open the Dutch forward somehow hit the side netting instead of the goal. He will not want to see the replays.

It proved costly as Bayern had to settle for a point and the club will see it as a missed chance to open up an early points advantage over Bremen.

Schalke ripped up the formbook to triumph 2-0 courtesy of goals from German international forward Kevin Kuranyi and substitute Hamit Altintop.

"We are delighted to leapfrog Bremen who are a great team," said Schalke coach Mirko Slomka.

"We had so many chances to win the game convincingly but we will take the 2-0. There is no point in getting carried away though as we have only played three games."

Only an inspired performance from Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese, emerging as a candidate for the German national team, prevented Schalke from racking up a tennis score as Bremen looked anything but champion material.

"I cannot remember the last time we played so poorly," said Bremen striker Miroslav Klose. "We should just be glad that it was only 1-0 for so much of the game."

Brazilian journalists were at the game to monitor Bremen's in-form playmaker Diego but it was Schalke's Brazilian Lincoln that stole the show.

"They came to see Diego but ended up watching Lincoln," said Schalke's Brazilian defender Marcelo Bordon.