Schalke moved level on points with Bayern Munich after a home win over Stuttgart, while Freiburg climbed off the foot of the table.
Schalke level on points with Bayern as Freiburg move off the bottom
Schalke moved level on points with Bayern Munich after a convincing home win over Stuttgart, while Freiburg climbed off the foot of the table.
Nurnberg secured a much-needed three points, Wolfsburg also claimed a home win and Hoffenheim were frustrated by Hannover.
Following Bayern's defeat by Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday night,
Schalke took advantage courtesy of a 3-1 home success over
Stuttgart.
Joel Matip provided Schalke with the perfect start by scoring after just three minutes before Kyriakos Papadopoulos added the second just before the hour mark.
Substitute Julian Draxler notched a third goal 10 minutes from time before Stuttgart substitute Shinji Okazaki netted an 87th-minute consolation.
Freiburg hauled themselves off the bottom of the table after substitute Matthias Ginter scored an 88th minute winner to earn a 1-0 home win over fellow strugglers
Augsburg, who now prop up the standings.
Wolfsburg also had a substitute to thank for three points after Sebastian Polter's 78th minute goal clinched a 1-0 home triumph over
Cologne.
Nurnberg put some daylight between themselves and the relegation places after Alexander Esswein's 43rd minute set them on their way to a 2-0 home victory over
Hertha Berlin.
Hoffenheim and
Hannover remain in the sanctuary of mid-table after playing out a 0-0 draw.
Goals were also scarce in the late game as struggling
Kaiserslautern drew 0-0 at home with
Werder Bremen.
Markus Rosenberg struck the post for Bremen midway through the first half before the hosts' Pierre De Wit was denied by the crossbar just before the hour mark.
