It looked like things were heading for a draw after Edu's 46th minute goal and Tasci's equaliser four minutes later. But the league's leading goalscorer Kevin Kuranyi made his presence felt on 55 minutes to secure the three points for Schalke.

Chances for both sides

After a quiet start the hosts carved out a clear cut opportunity on 14 minutes. Niedermeier collided with Farfan but the striker came out on top, as the ball trickled to Kevin Kuranyi at the top left hand corner of the box. The German international's right-footed, curling effort had Lehmann scrambling across his goal, but the effort skidded past the right post.

However, it was the visitors who had more of the possession. Just after the 20 minute mark Stuttgart almost found the opening. Kuzmanovic's through ball found Pogrebynak free in the box, but the striker was marginally adjudged off-side, when perhaps Cacau was better placed to fire home.

Stunning save

The best chance of the half eventually fell once again to Stuttgart's Russian striker on 35 minutes. Some neat inter-play between Träsch and Khedira let to a through ball which caught the Schalke back four flat footed, gifting Pogrebnyak a one on one with Neuer. The striker's effort was well struck from the edge of the box forcing Neuer to pull off an impressive reaction save to protect his clean sheet.

Stuttgart's increasing dominance brought with it a decline in attempts from the hosts, with neither Farfan nor Kuranyi involved in proceedings after their earlier chance. As the first half came to a close Christian Gross' side maintained the pressure on their hosts, but failed to test Neuer. On 42 minutes Hleb dribbled the ball into the box looking to find Pogrebnyak, but Marcelo Bordon managed to clear.

All square again?

It was a high octane start to the second period. Just a minute in and Schalke took the lead through Edu. A series of quick passes between Kluge and Kuranyi led to Edu finding the ball at his feet in the box. The substitute, who replaced Farfan at half time, slotted the ball past Neuer into the back of the net with barely his first touch to provide the hosts with the precious advantage. But the lead lasted just four minutes. Gebhart's cross from the right hand side found Tasci unmarked at the back post, who nodded past Neuer from point blank range.

That wasn't the end of the action either; this time Stuttgart only had themselves to blame. A well worked free kick from Schlake found Kuranyi in the box, catching Westermann unawares, while the rest of the defence attempted to play the offside trap. That gifted the German striker the easiest of finishes, extending the home side's lead.

Kuranyi dominates

Ten minutes later Kuranyi turned on the pace, bursting into the box from the right hand side. The striker squared the ball to substitute, Edu, free just outside the six yard box but the Brazilian skied the ball over the bar; a prime opportunity to put the game beyond Stuttgart. The visitors threw everything at Magath's men in the final few minutes and Smitz should have equalised after 89 minutes but a last ditch clearance was enough to secure the points for the hosts.

Schalke go top of the Bundesliga, for a night at least. Felix Magath's team are now a point clear of Bayern München, who play on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Stuttgart remain in seventh on 35 points, but with Frankfurt, Mainz and Wolfsburg all within a point, their position is by no means secure.

Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Höwedes, Bordon, Westermann - Matip - Kluge, Rakitic, Schmitz - Farfan, Kuranyi

Stuttgart: Lehmann -Träsch, Niedermeier, Tasci, Molinaro - Khedira, Kuzmanovic - Gebhart, Hleb - Cacau, Pogrebnyak

Goals: Edu 0-1 (46'), Tasci 1-1 (50'), Kuranyi 2-1 (55')