Mainz equals Bundesliga record with seventh straight win

BERLIN (Reuters) -- Surprise leaders Mainz 05 equalled the best ever Bundesliga start with their seventh successive win, beating visitors Hoffenheim 4-2 on Saturday.

The victory kept Mainz in top spot with 21 points, six ahead of second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who take on champions Bayern Munich on Sunday.

Mainz join Bayern and Kaiserslautern as the only teams to have ever won their first seven league matches in a season.

In a hugely entertaining game, the hosts needed only two minutes to storm into the lead with Sami Allagui completing a trademark quick counter-attack launched by Lewis Holtby.

The visitors battled back and levelled just before halftime through Demba Ba but two minutes after the restart Hungarian Adam Szalai made it 2-1 and a Luiz Gustavo own goal quickly gave the hosts a two-goal cushion.

Hoffenheim substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson fired in a free kick with his first touch of the ball in the 64th but Andre Schuerrle made sure of the three points 10 minutes later, converting a penalty after Hoffenheim defender Josip Simunic was sent off with a straight red card.