Leaders Schalke drop more points

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BERLIN, Germany -- Schalke 04 striker Halil Altintop finally broke his 12-match goal drought to give the Bundesliga leaders their first point in three games with a 1-1 draw at Hanover on Saturday.

The Turkish international striker scored his first goal since bagging two against Mainz last November with a volley after just two minutes as his side looked to find some form after defeats in their last two games.

But mid-table Hanover were soon back on level terms when former Manchester City defender Michael Tarnat slotted the ball home from close-range after a goalmouth scramble two minutes later.

Hanover's Hungarian international Szabolcs Huszti forced Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer into a good save when he drove his shot goal bound as the home side piled on the pressure in the dying stages.

Third-placed VfB Stuttgart were held to a 0-0 draw at home to VfL Wolfsburg and Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez, the Bundesliga's top scorer this season, will be out for six weeks after injuring knee ligaments.

Stuttgart coach Armin Veh confirmed that scans had shown the 21-year-old had suffered a serious injury after he was substituted shortly before half-time.

"He will be out for at least six weeks with torn ligaments. It will really affect us. It's a bitter blow," Veh said.

The lanky forward has scored 13 times this season to lift Stuttgart into the top three of the Bundesliga.

Gomez, who scored on his full international debut for Germany in the 3-1 win over Switzerland in February, will be ruled out of the Euro 2008 qualifier against the Czech Republic on March 24.

Bottom side side Borussia Moenchengladbach had a rare win in front of a home crowd of 40,000.

The Bundesliga's basement side took the lead over mid-table Hertha Berlin with a bullet header from striker Nando Rafael with half an hour gone.

The guests got back on level terms when Berlin's Argentinian striker Christian Gimenez scored with a well-taken goal.

But having shaken off his marker, Rafael used his head again to smash the ball past diving Berlin keeper Christian Fiedler.

And 21-year-old Michael Delura made it safe for 'Gladbach with a third goal just before the final whistle.

After Aachen forward Sascha Roesler poached a goal at Cottbus, there was drama when striker Jan Schlaudraff missed a penalty just before half-time only to see Sascha Dumm shown a red card for abusing the referee moments later.

But 10-man Aachen rounded off a 2-0 win when midfielder Sergio Pinto stabbed the ball home after a mix-up in the home side's defense.

Good run

Mainz, seemingly doomed before the winter break, have now pulled themselves up to 10th with a 1-0 win at home to Arminia Bielefeld with a 51st minute penalty by Danish defender Leon Andreasen, as they continue their good run with only one defeat in the last nine games.

Bochum's Greek striker Theofanis Gekas bagged two goals in his side's win at home to Borussia Dortmund, who are in danger of falling into the relegation dogfight with seven clubs just one defeat away from the relegation zone.

In Sunday's big game Bayern Munich, fresh from their Champions League win over Real Madrid, take on second placed Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena.

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