Schalke keep up pursuit of mighty Bayern

Schalke's Brazilian midfielder Lincoln (L) vies for the ball against Hanover's US defender Steven Cherundolo during their 23rd Bundesliga day match at the Arena AufSchalke stadium in Gelsenkirchen. Schalke won 1-0.

Schalke 04 kept up their dogged pursuit of mighty Bayern Munich with a 1-0 win over Hannover which kept them in second spot in the Bundesliga level on points with the Bavarian giants but behind on goal difference.

Bayern had beaten FC Freiburg 1-0 on Saturday to open up a temporary three-point gap while Werder Bremen had seen off Bochum 4-0 to stay third and in sight of a Champions League place.

Watched by 60,000 spectators at Gelsenkirchen, Schalke grabbed the vital goal through Mike Hanke who head home in the 65th minute.

Bayer Leverkusen, beaten 3-1 by Liverpool in the Champions League in midweek, looked set for a morale-boosting win when Bulgarian international Dimitri Berbatov gave them an 80th minute lead against Stuttgart in Sunday's other game.

But Stuttgart grabbed a point in the last minute when Brazilian Cacau converted a penalty after German internatiinal Kevin Kuranyi had been fouled.

On Saturday, troubled German international playmaker Sebastian Deisler hit back at his critics with a second-half goal which lifted Bayern Munich to a 1-0 win over struggling FC Freiburg.

Deisler, who has been frustrated at playing a peripheral role in the team and was advised by Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer earlier in the week to seek out a loan move if he was unhappy, was making his first appearance since the winter break.

Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn twice came to the rescue of the home side before the 25-year-old Deisler drilled in a cross shot in the 52nd minute for his second goal of the campaign.

"I want to be a hundred percent part of the team," said Deisler.

"I'm pleased for him," said Bayern coach Felix Magath.

"Sebastian is on the right track, our goal was and is to integrate him into the team and we achieved that."

Bayern Munich and Schalke 04 both have 47 points from 23 games with reigning champions Werder Bremen four points behind.

Bremen put their humiliating 3-0 Champions League loss to Lyon midweek behind them by scoring their fifth straight Bundesliga win by hammering relegation-threatened VfL Bochum 4-0.

Hertha Berlin moved into fourth position with 39 points after a crucial 4-1 win over seventh-placed SV Hamburg at the Olympic Stadium in the German captial.

Hertha were playing with ten men after Turkish international Yildiray Bastuerk was sent off for a handball in front of the goal after 62 minutes.

But Hamburg missed a chance to convert the ensuing penalty when a shot from Bosnian Serguie Barbarez hit the post.

Guiseppe Reina had opened the scoring for Hertha after just four minutes with Brazilian Gilberto claiming a double after 17 and 81 minutes and compatriot Marcelinho netting on 31.

Barbarez got one back for Hamburg after 78 minutes.

The win was crucial for Hertha who have an eye on the Champions League next season.

German football league table after Sunday's matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):