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Schalke 04 have to share the points with Leverkusen, giving Bayern München the opportunity to stretch away at the top.

Victory would have seen Schalke move up to second in the table, but the 1-1 (0-0) draw leaves them still three points adrift of Bayern, who visit Hamburger SV on Sunday.

Leverkusen meanwhile maintained their great record in Gelsenkirchen: they have now lost only one of their last ten games there.

Kuranyi and Gekas

German national striker Kevin Kuranyi put the hosts in front on the stroke of half-time with his second goal of the season. Theofanis Gekas, last season's Bundesliga top scorer, levelled for Leverkusen eight minutes after the restart.

A sell-out crowd in the Veltins Arena saw a game of few opportunities and little structure at the start, with the home side dominating possession. Best chance early on fell to Ivan Rakitic, who fired a cross from Gerald Asamoah against the outside of the post after 13 minutes.

Early injuries

Both sides lost a defender to injury soon after. In the 21st minute, Schalke coach Mirko Slomka had to take Mladen Krstajic off with a knee problem, Dario Rodriguez replacing him. That meant the home side had an entirely new central defence, with Heiko Westermann standing in for injured captain Marcelo Bordon.

Three minutes later, Bayer coach Michael Skibbe had to bring on Vratislav Gresko for Hans Sarpei. The Slovak international went on to create Leverkusen's best chance of the half, a long-distance effort saved by Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer.

Breakthrough

At the other end, a Christian Pander free-kick found the head of Kuranyi in added time to put the hosts in front at the break.

Leverkusen upped the pressure in the second half, Stefan Kießling pulling a desperate save out of Neuer (49.) before Gekas found a way past the keeper from close range at the second attempt (53.).

Great saves from Adler

After that it was the Rene Adler show, the Leverkusen keeper making great saves from Kuranyi (58.), then twice on the line in a scramble following a corner a minute later and again following a shot by Mesut Özil (70.). Peter Lövenkranz and Kuranyi, again, also spurned chances to seal it for Schalke.