Three days after making the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time, Schalke 04 get back on track in the league as well.
The Gelsenkirchen side ended a run of three defeats in a row with a 2-0 win at Arminia Bielefeld. Uruguayan international Gustavo Varela headed them in front in the 24th minute and Halil Altintop wrapped up the points with just over quarter of an hour to go.
Contrasting fortunes
The three points put Schalke back among the mix in the pack chasing Bayern. Bielefeld have meanwhile taken only one point from six games since the league restart under new coach Michael Frontzeck, and managed neither a goal nor a point in their three home games.
The first real chance of the game fell to the hosts, with a close-range effort from Christian Eigler saved by Champions League hero Manuel Neuer in the 21st minute. Three minutes later, a cross from Heiko Westermann found Valrea unmarked in the box at the other end, and Schalke were in front.
Chances go begging
Ivan Rakitic (26.) and Altintop (30.) passed up opportunities to double the guests’ advantage, and they could have been punished with just over an hour gone, but once again Neuer came to the rescue, stopping Eigler’s header. Altintop’s 74th-minute tap-in then made the game safe for S04.
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