A mix of determination and timely efficiency earn Bayer 04 a deserved 2-1 win in the top of the table clash against Schalke 04 on matchday 13. The Werkself stay at the head of the Bundesliga with 28 points.

Even after last weekend's 3-3 draw in Karlsruhe, coach Bruno Labbadia saw no reason to make any changes and put out the same starting eleven for the third time in a row. As usual, Bayer 04 started the game positively and sought to test Schalke early on and press the ball. As the Royal Blues denied their hosts space, the game went from end to end in the opening phase.

The first big chance fell to Schalke on 19 minutes but Kevin Kuranyi put his shot over the bar from seven yards out. Bayer 04 gradually built up steam. Renato Augusto caused particular problems on the left side of the Schalke defence with his runs. First, he dribbled his way towards the opposition area before passing to Arturo Vidal. But his shot from the edge of the box was punched away by Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer.

Kießling scores first

The Werkself were more successful just one minute later. Again,Augusto broke down the right, bamboozled Levan Kobiashvili and made it to the by line. His precise pass found Stefan Kießling ten yards out and the striker slotted the ball with equal precision into the bottom left of the Schalke net to make it 1-0 on the half hour mark. Bayer kept up the pressure. But a Kießling header from a Tranquillo Barnetta corner and an effort by Patrick Helmes failed to find the back of the net.

At the other end of the park Jermaine Jones headed wide. But the hosts remained the more alert and more effective team- and added a second goal before the break. Helmes reacted instantly after a Renato Augusto shot was blocked and struck his shot goalwards on the turn from 15 yards out. Neuer tire in vain to stretch for the ball as it made its way into the Schalke net on 41 minutes.

Record start for Helmes

That was Helmes' tenth goal of the season so far; a feat that no other Bayer 04 striker has achieved by this stage of the season since the Bundesliga. At half-time the Bayer fans in the capacity crowd at the BayArena were enjoying a 2-0 lead that the Werkself deserved for their efforts up to that point.

At the start of the second half Schalke endeavoured to go the offensive. But Bayer defended well and made use of the space on the break. The match did ,however, take on a different complexion half way through the second period. Gonzalo Castro mistimed a tackle on Jermaine Jones and received his marching orders for up a second yellow card. Schalke sensed a chance to get back into the game.

Chance for breakaway third

Bruno Labbadia's team upped their work rate and closed the Schalke players down wherever possible and were initially able to prevent any real threat to René Adler's goal. Indeed Bayer had a great chance to go 3-0 up on 75 minutes when Kießling and substitue Sascha Dum combined on the counter but failed to find the Schalke net.

The encounter grew ever more exciting in the final phase of the game; particularly after Kevin Kuranyi headed home a Christian Pander free-kick on 85 minutes. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric in the dying minutes of the match. A Gerald Asamoah equaliser was ruled out for offside und in the end the Werkself grabbed the three points with an exhibition of great desire and determination.

"Obviously, we came under pressure after the sending off,"declared Bayer coach Labbadia, "but I was particularly pleased that we fought for every ball." Thanks to a brave performance, Bayer 04 earned a 2-1 win over Schalke 04 and remain top of the Bundesliga with 28 points and with a goal difference of 16 (31 for, 15 against).

Bayer 04: Adler - Castro, Henrique, Friedrich, Kadlec, Rolfes, Renato Augusto, Vidal, Barnetta, Helmes, Kießling

FC Schalke 04: Neuer - Rafinha, Westermann, Bordon, Kobiashvili, Engelaar, Ernst, Jones, Halil Altintop, Kuranyi, Farfan

Goals: 1:0 Kießling (30), 2:0 Helmes (41), 2:1 Kuranyi (85)

Booked: Dum, Castro – Rafinha, Bordon, Engelaar

Sent off: Castro (second booking on 67 mins)

Substitutions: Dum for Helmes (73), Gekas for Kießling (90+2) – Pander for Kobiashvili (46), Höwedes for Ernst (52), Asamoah for Halil Altintop (66)

Referee: Gräfe (Berlin)

Attendance: 19,200 (capacity)