Dortmund profit as title rivals stutter

Borussia Dortmund remain two-points clear at the top of the Bundesliga after their closest title rivals FC Bayern München and FC Schalke 04 both drew.

All three sides were level on 40 points going into Dortmund's match against 1. FC Nürnburg on Friday, but a win for Jürgen Klopp's side put the pressure on their challengers, and neither could provide the perfect response.

An away win would returned Bayern to the summit on goal difference, but they fell behind to Jacopo Sala's 23rd-minute strike – a first-time volley into the bottom corner. It took Bayern until the 71st minute to draw level, Ivica Olić tapping in Thomas Müller’s low cross, but despite dominating, a winning goal was not forthcoming for the visitors.

Schalke succumbed to an identical fate at home to 1. FSV Mainz 05, who took a 16th-minute lead through new signing Mohamed Zidan, who volleyed in from close range. But it was another January signing who rescued a point for Schalke, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim loanee Chinedu Obasi firing in the equaliser.

Fourth-placed VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach missed the chance to leapfrog Schalke as they drew 0-0 at VfL Wolfsburg. Elsewhere, Hannover 96 were the only other team to record a win, a 1-0 success at Hertha BSC Berlin, as TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Bayer 04 Leverkusen both drew 2-2 with FC Augsburg and VfB Stuttgart respectively.