Leaders Underperform
February 26, 2007
The result meant their lead at the top was cut to four points with Stuttgart, who drew 0-0 with Hertha Berlin on Friday, remaining in second place while Werder Bremen stay third, but seven points behind, after drawing 2-2 with rock-bottom Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday.
Leverkusen, who booked their place in the UEFA Cup last 16 in midweek by knocking out Blackburn Rovers, secured the three points at Schalke thanks to a goal three minutes from time by striker Stefan Kiessling.
Werder had been on course for all three points against relegation-haunted Mönchengladbach but Nando Rafael leveled in the fourth minute of injury time.
Cameroon international Patrick Wome put Werder ahead in the 11th minute but Michael Delura leveled six minutes later. Croatian import Jurica Vranjes restored Werder's lead in the 84th minute before Nando's late equalizer for the Bundesliga's bottom club.
Bayern Munich shrugged off their midweek Champions League defeat at Real Madrid to beat Wolfsburg 2-1 on Saturday to hand coach Ottmar Hitzfeld a morale-boosting win.
Poldi on the scoresheet as Bayern regain composure
German international striker Lukas Podolski scored from a 26th-minute penalty, his second goal of the season, after a foul by Alexander Madlung on Claudio Pizarro who had been picked ahead of Roy Maakay.
Mark van Bommel added the second nine minutes into the second half with a 18-metre drive. Cedric Makiadi scored a 79th-minute consolation for Wolsfburg.
The win left Bayern in fourth spot, nine points behind leaders Schalke, and on course to grab a place in the Champions League next season should they fail to overturn a 3-2 deficit to Real in the second leg of their last 16 clash.
"The most important thing was the three points to keep us in contention," said Hitzfeld. "We were a little bit uncertain in defense at the start but after that we worked well. We deserved this win."
Second-place VfB shut-out by Hertha
Stuttgart wasted a golden chance to close the gap on Schalke 04 on Friday when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Hertha Berlin.
Hertha, who defended strongly and in numbers, were happy to take a point especially after midfielder Ashkan Dejagah was sent off in the dying minutes.
The Berlin side were also indebted to goalkeeper Christian Fiedler who pulled off a fine save in injury time to keep out the dangerous Mario Gomez, whose mood would not have been helped by having a 12th-minute strike on goal ruled out for hand ball.
Stuttgart went into the match stripped of the talents of skipper Fernando Meira and Antonio da Silva both injured while influential Mexican defender Pavel Pardo was suspended.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Borussia Dortmund had Nelson Valdes sent off as they lost 4-2 at Hanover while SV Hamburg eased their relegation fears with 3-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Egyptian international striker Mohammed Zidan grabbed both goals as Mainz 05 beat Nuremberg 2-1.