Schalke 04 climbed above Borussia Dortmund to second in the Bundesliga tonight courtesy of their comfortable 2-0 win over Hertha Berlin at Veltins-Arena.
Chinedu Obasi and Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored one apiece to earn Schalke their fourth win in five games and their 25th home point out of a possible 27.
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The hosts came close early on, with Kaan Ayhan rattling the crossbar with a 10th-minute free kick, but Hertha showed that they also possess a goalscoring threat through 16-goal leading marksman Adrian Ramos.
The striker created room for himself inside the box, only then to lift a shot over the crossbar.
In an eventful start to the contest, Schalke went up the other end to score with their next attack, as Obasi shot low through Berlin keeper Rune Jarstein after running from deep on 16 minutes.
It was just the Nigerian's second goal this season following six months out with a serious leg injury.
Anis Ben-Hatira twice blazed over the crossbar before the break for the visitors, who only registered one shot on target throughout the match, but Huntelaar was his usual potent self for Schalke.
He increased their lead one minute after the interval when Obasi squared for him to bury into the bottom corner from 12 yards for his 11th goal in only 13 Bundesliga starts this campaign.
Ramos, Sandro Wagner and Ronny were all guilty of wasting opportunities in the second half as Hertha failed to put Schalke's lead under any serious peril before the final whistle was blown.
Joe Fish
