Mainz no match for slick Schalke

FC Schalke 04 kept up the pace in their chase for a first Bundesliga title with a 3-0 win at 1. FSV Mainz 05, but VfB Stuttgart remain on their tail.

Early breakthrough
The Gelsenkirchen side took the lead after just ten minutes as Kevin Kuranyi broke the deadlock against relegation-haunted Mainz, and Gerald Asamoah confirmed their ascendance eleven minutes before the interval with a second goal. Lincoln then chipped a splendid third after 71 minutes to seal victory.

Stuttgart second
Schalke have not won a German title since the advent of the Bundesliga in 1963, although they won the old amateur title on a play-off in 1958. Mirko Slomka's men are four points clear at the top of the current table after Stuttgart won 2-1 against Hannover 96 to take second place from Werder Bremen, who play at BV Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.

Nürnberg fifth
Elswhere, 1. FC Nürnberg moved into fifth place with a 1-0 win against TSV Alemannia Aachen, while FC Energie Cottbus won by the odd goal in five at home against VfL Wolfsburg. Hertha BSC Berlin won 3-1 at VfL Bochum 1848 while Eintracht Frankfurt took a major step towards league safety with a 4-2 away win against fellow strugglers DSC Arminia Bielefeld.