Schalke held by Stuttgart as winless run stretches to 22 games

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v VfB Stuttgart - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - October 30, 2020 VfB Stuttgart's Nicolas Gonzalez celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler

Schalke 04 had to settle for a 1-1 draw against visitors VfB Stuttgart on Friday after leading for the first time this season and have now gone 22 Bundesliga games without a win.

The Royal Blues, who last week earned their first point of the season, looked sharper in the first half than in past weeks and went ahead with 19-year-old Malick Thiaw's diving header at the far post in the 30th minute.

A handball by Salif Sane gave the visitors a penalty in the 56th and Nicolas Gonzalez stepped up to equalise.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v VfB Stuttgart - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - October 30, 2020 Schalke 04 coach Manuel Baum with players after the match REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler

Stuttgart then took complete control of the game, with Schalke pulling back deep into their own half, and would have left with all three points were it not for Schalke goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow's fine saves late in the game.

Stuttgart move up to fourth place on nine points while Schalke are 17th with two after six games.

Leaders RB Leipzig, on 13 points, travel to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday when champions Bayern Munich, a point behind, visit struggling Cologne.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v VfB Stuttgart - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - October 30, 2020 VfB Stuttgart's Nicolas Gonzalez scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v VfB Stuttgart - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - October 30, 2020 Schalke 04's Goncalo Paciencia in action with VfB Stuttgart's Atakan Karazor REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v VfB Stuttgart - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - October 30, 2020 VfB Stuttgart's Wataru Endo in action with Schalke 04's Amine Harit REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler