Dortmund disappointment

A display of solid goalkeeping meant that Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund failed to gain all three points in their soccer clash with Ruhr Valley rivals Schalke on Friday evening.

Dortmund - now 12 points clear at the top and having won 16 out of their previous 20 matches - were in control from the very beginning.

The pressure exerted by the home side led to clear attempts on goal from midfielders Mario Götze and Jakub Blaszkzykowski, both thwarted by Germany keeper Manuel Neuer.

After half-time there was another jittery moment for Schalke as Dortmund's Lucas Bassio poked the ball wide of the target under pressure from defender Cristoph Metzelder.

Despite struggling with a series of attacks, Schalke did come close towards the end as Manuel Jurado fired off a shot that was stopped by Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfelder.

One last chance...

Then it was Dortmund's turn again with further drama at the other end of the pitch six minutes from time as Götze took the ball around Neuer, only to hit the post. The game finished goalless.

"We did not make use of our chances and one reason was Manuel Neuer," said Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp. "We have to live with that. We did not win and that happens sometimes."

Germany coach Joachim Löw joined a capacity 80,720 crowd at Dortmund's Signal-Iduna-Park ground, with five of the home side's players due to play for the national side when it faces Italy on Wednesday.

Now on 51 points, Dortmund retain a significant cushion against closest rivals Bayer Leverkusen, who play at Nuremberg in Saturday's football action.

Richard Connor (dpa, Reuters)
Editor: Tony Dunham