Schalke go level with Bayern

Schalke moved level on points with Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich tonight thanks to a 2-1 win over Hertha Berlin in the German capital. Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Teemu Pukki scored the goals for the Royal Blues, with Adrian Ramos on target for the home side as all three goals were scored in the first half. There were chances at both ends in the second 45 minutes, but Schalke held on for a win which takes them above local rivals Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach, and gives them the chance of leading the way at the midway stage of the season. Berlin, on the other hand, risk dropping into the bottom half of the table this weekend. Huntelaar put Schalke in front with his 14th goal of the season in the 19th minute. He received the ball from Roman Hubnik's poor headed clearance and he left Thomas Kraft with no chance with an excellent left-footed shot. Their lead lasted just six minutes, though, before Berlin's top goalscorer levelled with a near-post header from Raffael's corner. Pukki restored Schalke's lead just before the break with a fine shot from the edge of the penalty area into the corner of the goal, well out of the reach of Kraft. Kraft did better to deny Huntelaar on the hour mark as Schalke threatened a third goal, only to then retreat and concentrate on defending for the last half hour of the game. Despite Berlin's efforts, there was no way through the Schalke defence, with Raffael and Pierre Lasogga both getting frustrated as they tried to create something. On the break, Jose Manuel Jurado missed the chance to seal the win for Schalke in the 86th minute, but his miss from seven yards out did not prove costly as Huub Stevens' side held on for all three points at the Olympiastadion.