Stuttgart see off Schalke, Leverkusen prevail
Sunday, April 20, 2014
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VfB Stuttgart gave themselves breathing room in the Bundesliga's lower reaches by defeating third-placed FC Schalke 04 3-1, after Bayer 04 Leverkusen had moved back into fourth.
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VfB Stuttgart eased their relegation fears courtesy of a 3-1 defeat of third-placed FC Schalke 04, on a day when Bayer 04 Leverkusen returned to fourth in the Bundesliga via a 4-1 success at 1. FC Nürnberg.
Starting the afternoon a point above the drop zone, Stuttgart went ahead on 23 minutes when Martin Harnik headed in from a free-kick, and the Austria forward slotted in a second close to the hour mark, shortly after Cacau had nodded in from an Ibrahima Traoré cross.
Ádám Szalai responded for the visitors, but Stuttgart held firm to claim a third win in seven league outings since Huub Stevens took over last month, while Schalke now lie six points shy of Borussia Dortmund in second.
As for Leverkusen, they moved back within four points of the Königsblauen thanks to a comfortable victory at second-bottom Nürnberg. Emir Spahić put the Werkself ahead when he found the corner from range on 16 minutes, before Marvin Plattenhardt's free-kick evaded everyone to level the scores.
Sebastian Boenisch restored Leverkusen's lead shortly after the break and late efforts from Spahić and Roberto Hilbert secured a second consecutive win for new coach Sascha Lewandowski.
