Schalke beat Gladbach to go provisionally top

Croatia international Ivan Rakitic struck once in either half to send Schalke 04 provisionally top of the Bundesliga with a 3-1 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday.

Schalke, ending a two-match losing streak, are on 61 points with three games left, one ahead of Bayern Munich, who can reclaim top spot later on Saturday when they host Hanover 96.

Apart from still being in the running for their first title in more than 50 years, Schalke have all but secured a lucrative Champions League spot.

Rakitic gave the hosts an eighth minute lead with a thundering shot timed at 118 kph from 25 metres that looked to be sailing wide but shifted path to land wickedly in the top corner.

Gladbach's Raul Bobadilla levelled eight minutes later when he chased down a deep ball from his keeper, beat two defenders in the air to head it on, raced clear and got the better of keeper Manuel Neuer to tap into an empty goal.

Schalke's Kevin Kuranyi, bidding for a recall into the Germany squad for the World Cup, came close with a header a little later but the ball went just wide.

He was on target with another header on the stroke of halftime only to see it palmed away by keeper Logan Bailly. But the ball fell to Peruvian Jefferson Farfan who fired in from two metres.

The hosts sealed their victory and took the wind out of Gladbach's sails two minutes after the restart when Rakitic converted a penalty for a foul on 19-year-old Swiss Mario Gavranovic, making his Bundesliga debut.

Bayer Leverkusen, who had Tranquillo Barnetta sent off for a second booking in the 19th minute, dropped to fourth place on 54 points after losing 2-1 to hosts VfB Stuttgart and put their Champions League participation in doubt.

Werder Bremen came from 2-1 down to crush hosts VfL Wolfsburg 4-2 and climb to third place on goal difference, level on points with Leverkusen.