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Bayern slip to 8th with home draw

Matip wheels away after scoring Schalke's equalizer at the Allianz Arena.
Matip wheels away after scoring Schalke's equalizer at the Allianz Arena.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Bayern Munich held 1-1 at Allianz Arena by Schalke in Bundesliga
  • Bayern slip to eighth in the German standings with Schalke fourth
  • Luca Toni reportedly walks out after being substituted at halftime
  • Bayern coach Louis van Gaal feeling the heat after disappointing results

(CNN) -- The pressure is mounting on coach Louis van Gaal after Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 home draw by Schalke on Saturday.

It sees the Bavarian giants slip to eighth in the Bundesliga and to add to van Gaal's woes, reports in Germany said star striker Luca Toni had driven home after being substituted at half time at the Allianz Arena.

Toni has been a peripheral figure in the Bayern team since the Dutchman took charge and was replaced by Arjen Robben at the interval, the latest controversy set to increase speculation the 2006 World Cup hero will return to Italy in the January transfer window.

Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten put the home side ahead in the 31st minute, but Marvin Matip equalized for Schalke just before the break.

Bayern, who were beaten at home in midweek by Bordeaux to severely dent their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League, could not find a winner in the second half and trail German leaders Bayer Leverkusen by six points.

The Royals Blues of Schalke remain in fourth, but could count themselves unfortunate not to get three points.

Kevin Kuranyi came close in the opening minutes before Van Buyten benefited from a fortunate rebound from Holger Badstuber's free-kick and diverted the ball home.

Bastian Schweinsteiger nearly added a second for Bayern with a free kick which went perilously close, but they were punished as Matip brought Schalke level on 42 minutes, heading home Lukas Schmitz's free-kick.

Robben made little impression after coming on for the disgruntled Toni and it was Schalke who came the closest to winning the game in the 69th minute as Lucas Schmitz stole in behind the Bayern defense but was denied by keeper Hans-Jorg Butt.

In other mathes on Saturday, title holders Wolfsburg came from behind to win 2-1 in Hoffenheim, with Brazilian Grafite notching the winner on his return to the side.

Mainz beat Nuremberg 1-0, Freiburg won 2-1 in Bochum and Borussia Moenchengladbach drew 0-0 with Stuttgart.

On Friday, Bayer Leverkusen crushed Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 to ensure they stay top after this round of matches.

They have 26 points, four more than Werder Bremen and SV Hamburg who play on Sunday, and Schalke.