2nd league
Düsseldorf (dpa) – FC Schalke 04 has expanded its top position in the 2nd Bundesliga and is the top favorite in the final sprint for promotion.
The Royal Blues won in a gripping game at pursuers Darmstadt 98 5:2 (3:2) and are now leading the table with 56 points ahead of SV Werder Bremen (54) and FC St. Pauli (53). Bremen did not get better than 1: 1 (0: 1) against 1. FC Nuremberg and thus remained undefeated in their eleventh home game in a row. Darmstadt (51) and Nuremberg (50) missed the leap forward, but are still in wait.
In the relegation battle, Erzgebirge Aue left the bottom of the table with a 2-0 (0-0) win at 1. FC Heidenheim and reduced the gap to Dynamo Dresden (29 points) in the relegation place to seven points. Bottom FC Ingolstadt (19) lost to FC Paderborn 0:1 (0:0).