Leaders Schalke beat Stuttgart

Schalke 04 beat title rivals VfB Stuttgart 1-0 yesterday to stretch their Bundesliga lead to six points, but Bayern Munich lost ground with a 1-0 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Schalke, on top throughout, made the breakthrough when Stuttgart keeper Timo Hildebrand failed to clear a corner and allowed Mladen Krstajic to poke in a shot.

It was a first win in five games for Schalke, who are seeking their first German championship in 49 years.

The result gives them 53 points from 26 games and leaves Werder Bremen needing to win at home to Mainz today to cut the lead back to three. Stuttgart stay third on 46 points.

Bayern are fourth on 44 points, outside the Champions League places, after a goal from Christoph Preuss 12 minutes from time consigned them to defeat in Frankfurt.

It was a brilliant, first time overhead flick from Preuss, his first Bundesliga goal of the season, and it means Bayern will need to win next weekend's home game against Schalke to get back in the running for a third successive league championship.

"That was a very bitter defeat," said Ottmar Hitzfeld, who last week agreed a new contract with Bayern, keeping him at the club for at least other year.

"We dominated but we didn't have the final pass."

Schalke will go into that game at the Allianz Arena with renewed confidence after seeing off a defensive Stuttgart team.

Schalke were well on top at their Arena AufSchalke in terms of possession but with the Brazilian forward Lincoln missing through suspension they once again struggled to create clear chances.

After a dull opening half-hour they threatened a goal for the first time when Zlatan Bajramovic let fly from 20 metres, forcing a fine save from Hildebrand low at full stretch.

Hildebrand did well again three minutes later, keeping out a Kevin Kuranyi header that followed the best passing move of the match.

Focus on Bayern

The Germany goalkeeper was at clear fault on the goal, though, with around a quarter of an hour to go. Mesu Oezil took the corner, Hildebrand reacted slowly when the ball dropped at his feet and Krstajic took full advantage.

"It wasn't our best game of the season," said Schalke coach Mirko Slomka.

"We've played better before and lost. We'd do well now to concentrate on the game at Bayern.

"We can go there with a lot more confidence after this."