Brazilian Ailton scored the only goal of the game on 17 minutes to continue Schalke's fantastic record over their neighbours who have not won the fixture since 1998.

Leaders Bayern Munich were left cursing a late slip that allowed Bavarian rivals FC Nuremberg to peg them back to a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

Bayern and Schalke are now level on 33 points and both sides have a chance of winning the honorific title of 'winter champions' in the final set of fixtures before the winter hiatus next weekend.

Dortmund are now 14th in the Bundesliga table just three points clear of the relegation zone.

Reigning champions Werder Bremen moved to within six points of Bayern with a 6-0 drubbing of hapless SC Freiburg.

Greece's Euro 2004 hero Angelos Charisteas scored a hat-trick (29, 58, 87) with German international Miroslav Klose also grabbing a brace (20, 23).