Schalke vs Borussia Dortmund: Goalless draw sees both sides fall back in Bundesliga title race
Schalke and Borussia Dortmund played out a lacklustre 0-0 draw on Saturday that saw both teams drop off the pace in the Bundesliga title race.
Schalke twice hit the woodwork through Salif Sane and Suat Serdar in a dominant first half with Dortmund content to play second fiddle.
Schalke who won four games on the trot before stumbling in their last two, should have scored in the second half but for teenager Rabbi Matondo's less than clinical finish.
Dortmund left their attacking game for the second half with Jadon Sancho coming close, but they were badly missing injured top striker Paco Alcacer, out with a muscle problem.
Third-placed Dortmund, who have now won only one of their last five league games, are on 16 points, with Schalke in seventh spot on 15. Relive all the action:
9 mins: Matondo wins a corner for Schalke, the first of the game as Piszczek puts the ball behind. The ball comes into the box but Hummels heads it away.
Matondo latches onto the follow up but misses the target.
12 mins: Gotze has a one-on-one with the goalkeeper but puts the shot wide of goal. Dortmund win the ball back but Reus loses it in the middle of the park. Matondo runs forward and wins another corner.
Caliguri takes the corner, and Delaney puts it out for another one.
15 mins: Dortmund defend the second corner and Schalke take possession of the ball, they work it down the right wing and win a throw in before Dortmund clear the ball again.
24 mins: Nubel is put under pressure from Reus and he has to kick the ball out of play. Schalke win in back and work the ball down the left before switching to the right. Harit puts the ball into the box to Caliguri who sends it out for a goal kick.
27 mins: Piszczek brings the ball forward for Dortmund after they defended a decent attack from Schalke. He tries to find Reus but the pass isn't great and Reus can't control the ball so Schalke win it back.
They get a free kick in Dortmund's half and send the ball into the box, Hummels runs back and puts the ball out for a corner.
30 mins: The corner ball comes in and Sane wins the header and hits the crossbar!
The ball rebounds out of the box and Schalke pick it up again, Sane stays in the box wins another header but directs it into the hands of Hitz this time.
33 mins: Burgstaller has a cross blocked by Hummels with a crunching challenge but the Schalke man is ruled offside for his run and Dortmund get a free kick.
Hakimi works the ball into the box from the left side of the pitch but Schalke defend the cross.
The post denies Schalke!
Harit gets the ball into the box but Dortmund's clearance bounces off Delaney and comes to Caliguri who shoots and hits the post.
36 mins: Schalke look like they want the goal more than Dortmund, they're certainly playing further up the pitch. Oczipka runs the ball into the box from the left wing and tries to find Burgstaller but Hummels is there to block the pass.
39 mins: Hummels takes no chances and heads the ball out for a corner after being under a bit of pressure. It is Schalke's fifth corner of the game, Dortmund have had none.
The corner is too short and the first defender heads it away.
45 mins: Caliguri sends Matondo free in behind the defence. He runs the ball into the box, and only has to beat Hitz as he shoots but he doesn't! The goalkeeper comes of his line and makes the save, the offside flag is then raised against Matondo.