Schalke blunt Bremen ambition

Kevin Kuranyi scored twice as FC Schalke 04 earned a hard-fought 2-1 win against fellow UEFA Champions League contenders Werder Bremen, as FC Bayern München extended their lead at the Bundesliga summit. There were also wins for Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC but RSC Anderlecht were denied by the weather as uefa.com rounds up Saturday afternoon's action.

Kuranyi goals
In Germany, Schalke closed the gap to the top trio of Bayern, Hamburger SV and Bremen with a narrow victory against the latter in Gelsenkirchen. Kuranyi got Ralf Rangnick's team off to the best possible start, capitalising on a defensive error from Naldo after just 70 seconds. The visitors regained their composure, and eventually levelled ten minutes after half-time through Paraguayan international Nelson Valdez. But parity proved short-lived, as the lively Kuranyi made it 2-1 nine minutes later and the home side held on.

Bayern blossom
Victory sees Schalke move four points behind their opponents but they remain 12 adrift of leaders Bayern, who were again indebted to Claudio Pizarro after scraping a 2-1 win against 1. FSV Mainz 05. The Peruvian striker also hit two at DSC Arminia Bielefeld last weekend, and his blossoming partnership with Roy Makaay was again evident when the Dutchman teed him up for the opener against Mainz before the half-hour mark. Benjamin Auer soon equalised but Pizarro scored again six minutes after the restart to seal the win.

Henry landmark
There was also a familiar name on the scoresheet at Highbury as Thierry Henry became the first player to score 100 goals at the home of Arsenal as the team earned a commanding 3-0 victory against Blackburn Rovers FC. The Frenchman scored just before half-time to make it 2-0 following Cesc Fabregas' clinical fourth-minute strike, and although the visitors fought back after the interval, Robin van Persie's sumptuous late effort wrapped up the points.

Riise rocket
Victory was sufficient to see Arsène Wenger's side move second in the table behind Chelsea FC, overtaking Wigan Athletic FC after the Lancashire side lost 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur FC. Liverpool are seventh following their narrow 1-0 victory against Manchester City FC in Eastlands. John Arne Riise scored the only goal of a tight encounter, rifling home just after the hour after good work from Liverpool's talismanic captain, Steven Gerrard.

Anderlecht numbed
Elsewhere, Anderlecht missed out on the chance of going top of the Belgian First Division after their top-of-the-table encounter at leaders R. Standard de Liège was called off due to heavy snow.