A goal late in each half helped FC Schalke 04 to a 2-0 home victory against 1. FC Köln that moved the Gelsenkirchen club back within three points of the Bundesliga's leading pair, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern München.

Joel Matip edged the hosts in front in added time at the end of the first half with a header from Lukas Schmitz's cross, one of precious few scoring chances in the opening period. Peruvian striker Jefferson Farfán made the points safe nine minutes from time with his seventh league goal of the campaign, converting from close range after being teed up by Kevin Kuranyi. Köln, losers in the German Cup to 2. Bundelisga outfit FC Augsburg in midweek, remain in 13th place.

In the day's other game, Halil Altıntop's first goal for seventh-placed Eintracht Frankfurt earned Michael Skibbe's team victory at the expense of SC Freiburg. The Turkish international struck in the 91st minute after Benjamin Köhler (40) had replied to Papiss Cissé's effort for the visitors, who are two points clear of trouble.