Print Print edition: 2011-08-22

Four-goal Schalke bounce back to floor Mainz

Published Updated

Schalke 04 scored four second-half goals to come from 2-0 down to seal a 4-2 victory at Mainz 05 on Sunday, rounding off a day to remember after Spanish striker Raul had earlier committed his future to the club. Raul said he will see out his contract, which expires in June 2012, ending rumours he was set to quit last season's Champions League semi-finalists.
Schalke's win took them to third in the table and denied Mainz a third straight victory and top spot. Mainz looked to have wrapped up the three points in the first half as Austria striker Andreas Ivanschitz and Colombia midfielder Elkin Soto scored within the opening 12 minutes before Schalke netted four goals without reply.
Having conceded four goals in 33 minutes, Mainz goalkeeper Heinz Mueller was far from amused. Schalke roared back as Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar netted on 57 minutes, after a selfless pass from Raul, and then captain Benedikt Hoewedes scored with a superb far-post header seven minutes later.
The Royal Blues kept up the pressure and were rewarded when Cameroon midfielder Joel Matip headed his side into the lead for the first time on 81 minutes. Austria left-back Christian Fuchs slammed home a free-kick nine minutes later.
On Saturday, Dutch star Arjen Robben produced another eye-catching performance as Bayern Munich hammered Hamburg 5-0 while champions Borussia Dortmund earned a 2-0 victory over Nuremberg. Bayern - who went second on the back of the win - raced into a 2-0 lead inside 17 minutes through Belgium defender Daniel van Buyten and French winger Franck Ribery.
Robben made it 3-0 on 34 minutes when he chipped Hamburg goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny before Mario Gomez fired home on 56 minutes then substitute Ivica Olic's header on 80 minutes sealed the rout.
Having suffered a shock defeat at Hoffenheim last week, Dortmund enjoyed a hard-fought win at home to Nuremberg to climb to fifth in the table thanks to goals from striker Robert Lewandowski and winger Kevin Grosskreutz.