Schalke scored in each half during their match against Cologne on Sunday to win 2-0 and maintain their challenge for the Bundesliga title. They are now within three points of leading pair Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.

In the first half stoppage time Joel Matip headed in a free-kick from the right by Lukas Schmitz. "It was a fantastic ball from in from Lukas and I only had to touch it for it to go in," said Matip.

Jefferson Farfan extended their lead in the 81st minute when he slammed home his seventh goal of the season, building on a set up by Kevin Kuranyi.

In Sunday's other match, Frankfurt beat Freiburg 2-1 with a last-minute goal by Halil Altintop.

While Cologne are still in 12th spot, a comfortable eight points out of the relegation zone, Freiburg remain in the middle of a relegation battle. Frankfurt is currently in 7th place.


hf/dpa/Reuters
Editor: Andreas Illmer