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BERLIN, Aug. 6-- Stuttgart humbled Schalke 3-0 while Wolfsburg defeated Cologne 3-0 on the opening day of 2011-2017 Bundesliga on Saturday. Stuttgart took down Schalke with a blatant 3-0 defeat in front of outsold Mercedes-Benz Arena. Stuttgart needed two set pieces to take a 2-0 lead. Stuttgart striker Cacau nodded home a prolonged corner to open the scoring with 37 minutes into the match. Schalke pressed for the equalizer but was punished by Stuttgart with the 2-0 lead as striker Martin Harnik nodded home a free kick at the last post with 11 minutes into second half. One minute before final whistle Stuttgart striker Shinji Okazaki hammered the ball from 16 meters home for the 3-0 win. Cologne suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat in front of home crowd at Rhein-Energie Stadium against Wolfsburg. Former Cologne striker Patrick Helmes opened the scoring for his new side at the 17th minute when he poked the ball from close distance. Wolfsburg remained dominant but ineffective in front of Cologne goal area. Cologne striker Milivoje Novakovic weakened his team additionally when he was sent off as he got his second yellow card of the match. At the 85th minute "Wolves" defender Marcel Schaefer curled home a corner to double the lead. Hannover and Hoffenheim staged an exciting match scoring three goals in 30 minutes. The match started with a strange goal as Hannover striker Jan Schlaudraff netted a direct free kick goal into top left whilst Hoffenheim goalkeeper Tom Starke was still organizing his wall. | 
