Clinical Schalke take their chance

By Mark Bennett

FC Schalke 04 put Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern München under pressure with a 3-0 win against VfL Wolfsburg.

Asamoah opener
Bayern, who visit DSC Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday, are, for now, ahead only on goal difference. Schalke took the lead on 13 minutes when Gerald Asamoah headed in a Lincoln cross, but the goalscorer had been doubtful with a thigh injury and indeed limped off on the hour. Five minutes before he departed, though, Lincoln's corner was turned in by Ebbe Sand and near the end Mike Hanke completed the scoring.

Debutants delight Bremen
Title-holders Werder Bremen are back in the hunt after defeating VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0 - 18-year-old Aaron Hunt scoring 28 minutes into his Bundesliga debut and Mohamed Zidan, also making his bow after joining from FC Midtjylland, confirming the points two minutes from time.

Stuttgart slip
Bremen are third, four points behind the leading duo, after VfB Stuttgart lost 2-1 at Hamburger SV despite leading through Imre Szabics on 15 minutes. Sergej Barbarez swiftly equalised and Daniel Van Buyten scored the winner in the 54th minute. Boris Zivkovic was sent off for Stuttgart for a second booking 17 minutes before the end.

Hertha happy
Hertha BSC Berlin also overtook Stuttgart and are fourth as they extended their unbeaten run to eleven games by beating 1. FC Nürnberg 2-1. However, Hannover 96 missed a chance to enter the top six as they were held 0-0 by struggling SC Freiburg.

Strugglers lose
Freiburg are six points adrift in the bottom three, as are VfL Bochum 1848, who lost 1-0 to Ruhr rivals BV Borussia Dortmund. Bottom side FC Hansa Rostock were defeated 2-1 by 1. FC Kaiserslautern. One place off the relegation zone, 1. FSV Mainz 05 meet Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Sunday.