VfB Stuttgart and goalie Timo Hildebrand broke the record for scoreless minutes in the Bundesliga Saturday, but were held 0-0 by bottom Cologne.
Three days after the Champions League upset of Manchester United the Bundesliga frontrunner was less than inspired, but managed to eclipse the record of 802 minutes held by Bayern Munich and 'keeper Oliver Kahn.
Hildebrand's best moment was a first-rate diving save of a free kick by Cologne captain Dirk Lottner, one of the league's most feared at that skill, as Stuttgart's record reached 825 minutes.
"I would trade in the record for a victory today without hesitation," Hildebrand said. "The team is more important."
Stuttgart, still unbeaten and unscored upon in eight matches, remained one point clear of Bayern. The Bavarians got goals from stars Roy Makaay and Michael Ballack in a 4-1 rout of hapless Hertha Berlin, still seeking its first win.
Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen could move top of the table with a win Sunday.
Stuttgart, which once had vast rows of empty seats, has become so popular the match against Cologne was delayed 15 minutes because the 52,000 clamoring to get in Gottlieb-Daimler stadium overloaded the infrastructure.
Stuttgart faced a Cologne team that kept all its players back. The young team had 64 percent ball control and a 20-5 edge in attempts, with Germany forward Kevin Kuranyi wasting the best one.
After Makaay volleyed home a Hasan Salihamidzic left cross in the 22nd second for his fourth Bundesliga goal, the Dutch striker found Ballack with a similar move from the right in the 45th.
Ballack's powerful header was one-handed by Hungarian Gabor Kiraly, one of the league's top goalies, but the Germany player beat everyone to the putback for his third goal.
Bastian Schweinsteiger added a 58th minute goal and Salihamidzic scored two minutes before end as Bayern managed a rout with very few scoring chances.
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