Wolfsburg tops Schalke to end streak
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Shanghai Daily, September 13, 2011
VFL Wolfsburg striker Mario Mandzukic scored twice, including the winner eight minutes from time, to give his team a 2-1 victory over Schalke 04 on Sunday and end the 2009 German Bundesliga champion's three-match losing streak.
The Croat offered under-pressure coach Felix Magath, the controversial former Schalke boss, some respite and lifted Wolfsburg to six points from five games.
Raul - who was Magath's biggest transfer coup at Schalke last year - needed only 13 minutes to strike, volleying in a clever chip from Peruvian Jefferson Farfan to put the visitors in the driving seat.
Wolfsburg quickly recovered and leveled with Mandzukic heading in from close range after being left completely unmarked.
The hosts snatched the lead in the second half when the Croatia international deflected a Marcel Schaefer free kick into the net.
Schalke missed the chance to join leaders Bayern and Werder Bremen on 12 points, staying on nine.
Bayern leads the table following its 7-0 demolition of SC Freiburg on Saturday. Bremen is second on goal difference after its 2-0 win over Hamburg SV.
In Spain, promoted Real Betis was rubbing shoulders with Real Madrid and Valencia at the top of La Liga after Ruben Castro scored the only goal late in a 1-0 home win over Real Mallorca on Sunday.
Back in the top-flight after a two-year absence, Betis was third with six points from two games behind Real and Valencia on goal difference.
Champion Barcelona was fourth with four points after a 2-2 draw at Real Sociedad on Saturday.
In other games on Sunday, it was: Espanyol 2, Athletic Bilbao 1, Osasuna 2, Sporting Gijon 1; Racing Santander 0, Levante 0; and Rayo Vallecano 0, Real Zaragoza 0.
