Schalke frustrate rivals Dortmund title hopes

BERLIN, March 12: Schalke twice fought back to dent Borussia Dortmund’s title ambitions in a 2-2 draw in the Bundesliga’s 100th Ruhr derby on Saturday.
Schalke forward Marius Bülter scored one equalizer then set up the next to end Dortmund’s eight-game winning run in the league and leave Bayern Munich two points clear at the top of the table. Dortmund created more goal chances, but Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann got the better of Donyell Malen, then showed good reflexes to deny Marius Wolf. Nico Schlotterbeck finally made the breakthrough in the 38th with a well-struck shot from outside the penalty area inside the right post. The halftime break came at the right time for Schalke, which struck back through Bülter in the 50th with an easy finish to Michael Frey’s cross after Jude Bellingham lost possession in midfield. Raphael Guerreiro restored Dortmund’s lead on the hour mark with a brilliant finish inside the top right corner. But Schalke came back again with Bülter setting up Kenan Karaman to head the equalizer in the 79th.
Bayern win
Defenders fired Bayern clear at the top with a 5-3 rout of Augsburg in the other derby Saturday.Joao Cancelo opened the scoring and Benjamin Pavard grabbed two goals before Alphonso Davies scored the 5th. (PTI)