Leverkusen close on leaders Dortmund
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Article summary
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have trimmed the gap at the Bundesliga summit to seven points after seeing off FC Schalke 04 2-0, while VfL Wolfsburg were denied victory late on by VfB Stuttgart.
Article top media content
Article body
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have cut the gap at the Bundesliga summit to seven points after defeating FC Schalke 04 2-0.
With Felix Magath's replacement Ralf Rangnick not due to lead Schalke into action until after the international break, it was left to interim coach Seppo Eichkorn to oversee the trip to second-placed Leverkusen. He and the UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists came away empty-handed, however, as their opponents proved keen to profit from Saturday's 1-1 draw between leaders Borussia Dortmund and 1. FSV Mainz 05.
Eren Derdiyok put the hosts ahead with a superb long-range effort after 19 minutes, and Leverkusen quickly doubled their advantage when Schalke centre-back Christoph Metzelder headed past his own goalkeeper eight minutes later.
At the other end of the table, VfL Wolfsburg missed out on the chance to move out of the relegation zone after conceding an added-time equaliser at VfB Stuttgart. The visitors took the lead through Grafite (39), but Georg Niedermeier (90+4) made it a disappointing return to the Wolfsburg helm for Magath, whose side remain two points behind Stuttgart in 17th place.
Results
