Schalke 04 falter again at top of Bundesliga

Bundesliga leaders Schalke 04 faltered once again yesterday, extending their winless streak to four games with a 1-1 draw at Hanover 96.

Halil Altintop gave Schalke the lead in the second minute, deflecting a Mesu Oezil free-kick past Hanover goalkeeper Robert Enke.

Michael Tarnat got the equaliser two minutes later, tapping in a rebound after a hard shot by Hanno Balitsch hit the post.

"It was a fair result if you look at the whole match," said Schalke coach Mirko Slomka. "I thought we were stronger in the first half. We fought hard in the second half but in the end we were a bit lucky."

The leaders were again missing their playmaker Lincoln, sitting out a five-match suspension for a red card received for punching an opponent last month.

Schalke have just two points from their last four matches. They led by six points four weeks ago after a six-match winning streak catapulted them in front of the pack.

Second-placed Werder Bremen visit Bayern Munich today.

Third-placed VfB Stuttgart also stumbled again, held to a scoreless draw at home against VfL Wolfsburg. Stuttgart have just two points from their last three league matches.

Schalke, searching for their first championship since 1958, have 50 points, Werder and Stuttgart are on 46 and fourth-placed Bayern, riding high after two successive league wins and their Champions League victory over Real Madrid, are on 43. They were 12 behind Schalke three weeks ago.