FC Schalke
Substitute Mike Hanke struck twice in the first half as Schalke cruised past Nurnberg to keep up the pressure on Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga. Hanke, who replaced the injured Ebbe Sand early on, struck in the 24th and 36th minutes, before Goncalves Ailton netted just before the interval to put the result beyond doubt and make Samuel Slovak's second-half strike for the visitors little more than a consolation. Cassio Lincoln then added a deserved fourth for the hosts as Nurnberg crumbled to another defeat. Schalke remain second in the Bundesliga table despite their win as Bayern Munich's equally comfortable victory against Wolfsburg kept them top on goal difference. But Ralf Rangnick's side, backed for the title this week by German chancellor Gerhard Schroder, are looking more like genuine contenders each week and were never in trouble in a one-sided game at the AufSchalke Arena. However, they were handed a blow after only four minutes when Sand was forced to go off with a broken nose after colliding with Nurnberg defender Frank Wiblishauser. Hanke came off the bench and soon broke the deadlock, nodding home a fine cross from Brazilian Lincoln. The visitors looked stunned and were at fault again to allow Hanke his second.
Poor marking left the 21-year-old in the clear to convert Ailton's slide-rule pass. Ailton then lobbed the third with five minutes of the half still to play to effectively secure the points for the hosts. Nurnberg did come out with more purpose after the break and Slovak's long-range effort after 55 minutes brought them back into the game. But Lincoln deservedly notched a fourth after 74 minutes to banish any thoughts of a fairytale comeback and seal all three points for the hosts.