Borussia Monchengladbach moved top of the Bundesliga while Wolfsburg climbed to second place on Sunday after taking advantage of their rivals faltering with respective wins over Augsburg and Union Berlin.

Marco Rose's Gladbach are in first place for the first time since the 2011-12 season, a point clear of Wolfsburg in a congested top half of the table, after thumping Augsburg 5-1.

Champions Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig are among five teams of the third place.

"We played a very good game, we won great ball, were effective and played courageously," said Rose.

"I don't want to overstate things – we've got 16 points and we are leaders in a very tight league, but we still have a lot of work to do."

Gladbach dominated their lowly opponents and were three goals up after just 13 minutes and 4-0 ahead by half-time, with Patrick Herrmann hitting a quick double.

Bayern, who lost 2-1 at Hoffenheim on Saturday, surrendered top spot. Borussia Dortmund, a further two points back, and Leipzig both drew.

Gladbach took the lead in the second minute when Denis Zakaria tapped home from close range, before Herrmann quickly scored twice to put the hosts three ahead and Alassane Plea added the fourth six minutes before the break.

Augsburg opened the second half more positively, with Florian Niederlechner having an effort turned onto the post with 15 minutes remaining.

Niederlechner scored the away side's only goal five minutes later, but Breel Embolo made it five for Gladbach just five minutes later to seal a comprehensive victory.

In Sunday's late game, Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen fought out a 2-2 draw at Frankfurt's Commerzbank Arena.

Frankfurt dominated the first half and were unlucky to go behind, with Bremen's Davy Klaassen hammering the ball past goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow the 27th minute.

Frankfurt missed chance after chance before Sebastian Rode finally equalized in the 55th minute.

Frankfurt looked like they'd stolen the three points when new signing Andre Silva scored in the 89th minute, breaking out into celebration before Bremen won a penalty just 30 seconds later.

Klaassen was brought down in the box by Frankfurt's Makoto Hasebe, allowing Milot Rashica to score from the spot with the clock winding down. 

Unbeaten Wolfsburg are right behind the new leaders after a tight 1-0 win over promoted Union earned thanks to Wout Weghorst's 69th-minute strike.

Wolfsburg endured some early pressure from the visitors, with Marius Buelter going close for Berlin in the 24th minute.

Weghorst thought his side had been given a chance to take the lead from the spot in the 52nd minute after being held back in the box by Marvin Friedrich, only to see the penalty overturned after Weghorst was deemed to have handled in the lead up.

The Dutchman wouldn't have to wait long to get on the scoresheet however, converting a perfectly timed through ball from Josip Brekalo to send his side second.

Wolfsburg coach Oliver Glasner praised his players' ability to bounce back from Thursday's Europa League fixture in France to take advantage of the opportunity to go second.

"I have to compliment my players. Three days after the hard game in St Etienne we are here today," he said.

"We are incredibly happy that we could win this tough match and that we are now second and unbeaten ahead of the international break."

(Cover: Denis Zakaria of Borussia Monchengladbach celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Bundesliga match against FC Augsburg at Borussia-Park in Monchengladbach, Germany, October 6, 2019. /VCG Photo)