Hanover stun Gladbach, Huntelaar rescues Schalke

Borussia Moenchengladbach were dealt a blow in their bid for an automatic Champions League spot on Sunday when they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Hanover 96 in the Bundesliga to drop three points behind third-placed Schalke 04, who drew 1-1 at Hoffenheim.

Hanover's Ivorian Didier Ya Konan slotted home from close range in the 57th minute and Senegalese Mame Biram Diouf headed in his fifth league goal this season in the 77th before Gladbach cut the deficit a minute later through Havard Nordtveid.

The win put Europa League quarter-finalists Hanover, who trail Atletico Madrid 2-1 after the away leg, firmly back in contention for a spot in the competition next season.

They are on 41 points in fifth place while Gladbach, after their third defeat in the last five games, are stuck in fourth on 51 with six games left to play.

In Sunday's other game, Schalke had to settle for a draw at Hoffenheim but moved up to 54 points, nine adrift of leaders Borussia Dortmund and six behind Bayern Munich.

Sejad Salihovic had given Hoffenheim an unexpected lead with a well-taken penalty in the 31st minute with Schalke having looked far more aggressive at the start.



DESERVED POINT

The visitors, who lost their Europa League quarter-final home leg to Athletic Bilbao 4-2 in midweek, fought back and grabbed a deserved point with a spot kick of their own.

Hoffenheim failed to win at home for yet another week with their last victory on their ground stretching back to October.

Schalke's controversial penalty came after Chinedu Obasi fell in the box following a challenge from Andreas Beck in the 80th minute, seconds after Klaas-Jan Huntelaar had hit the bar.

The Dutchman quickly made amends, converting the spot kick for his 23rd goal of the season to join Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez at the top of the goal chart.

The top three teams automatically book a spot in the Champions League group stage for next season.

Dortmund's lead at the top was cut to three points after they drew 4-4 in a thriller at home to VfB Stuttgart on Friday while second-placed Bayern beat Nuremberg 1-0 away on Saturday.