BERLIN (Reuters) - Schalke 04 needed an 86th-minute own goal from Robin Knoche to beat hosts VfL Wolfsburg 1-0 on Saturday, tightening their grip on second place and delaying title celebrations for leaders Bayern Munich by at least one matchday.
At the other end of the table the first Bundesliga relegation for league ever-presents Hamburg SV edged closer after they lost 2-1 at home against Hertha Berlin to stay anchored in 17th place.
Schalke substitute Breel Embolo cut back into the box and Knoche deflected the ball into his own net for the game's only goal as the visitors moved up to 49 points with seven games left.
Ten minutes earlier Schalke keeper Ralf Faehrmann had saved a penalty to keep them in the game.
Bayern, top on 66, face RB Leipzig on Sunday but will have to put the champagne on ice for at least two weeks due to the league's break for international matches, as they can theoretically still be caught.
Third-placed Borussia Dortmund, on 45, host Hanover 96 on Sunday.
Hamburg, the only club to have played in the Bundesliga every season since the league's creation in 1963, are seven points away from the relegation playoff spot occupied by Mainz 05, with just seven games left.
They have won only four Bundesliga games all season.
Everything looked to be going well for the former European champions and their new coach Christian Titz when Douglas Santos put them ahead in the 25th minute.
But Hertha struck twice in seven minutes in the second half, with goals from Valentino Lazaro and Salomon Kalou, to snatch the three points.
Eintracht Frankfurt boosted their chances of a top-four finish -- and Champions League action next season -- with a 3-0 victory over Mainz to climb to fourth on 45 points.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann,; Editing by Ed Osmond)
