With two of their chief rivals Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich both losing, at home to Hamburg and away to Alemannia Aachen respectively, Schalke could have opened up a seven-point gap on second-placed Stuttgart with victory.

And it all seemed to be going to plan as two first half goals from Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi saw Schalke take a comfortable lead into the break.

But Wolfsburg did not give up and Diego Klimowitz hit a second half brace, the second with just two minutes left on the clock, to salvage a share of the spoils.

"There's nothing to say: Wolfsburg deserved the point from a draw, we couldn't defend their set pieces," said Schalke coach Mirko Slomka, who earlier in the season was under fire after his team slumped out of the German Cup and UEFA Cup.

Following Stuttgart's 4-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday, Schalke now hold a five-point lead over the pack as they seek to win a first German title since 1958 (the Bundesliga was created in 1963).

Bremen slipped to seven points off the pace following their third defeat in a row, this one against newly resurgent Hamburg who have two wins out of two under new coach Huub Stevens.

Dutch international midfielder Rafael van der Vaart opened the scoring for Hamburg from the penalty spot in the first half and then wrapped up the spoils just before the end.

"Over the last three (league) matches we have not been able to show our true face, particularly in attack," said Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs, who admitted the team's current results were harming their title aspirations.

It was a far cry from Werder's dazzling midweek UEFA Cup performance in the 3-0 victory over Dutch side Ajax.

However, Werder's problems pale in comparison with Bayern's, last season's double winners now sit 12 points down from Schalke and have next to no hope of retaining their title.

Even worse, Bayern are fourth and face a battle to close the five-point deficit to Bremen to make the top three and qualify for next season's Champions League.

Alexander Klitzpera scored a first half winner for Aachen, who also beat Bayern 4-2 in the German Cup a couple of months ago.

The only good news for Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld was the performance of Aachen forward Jan Schlaudraff, who will join the Bavarian giants next season.

Hamburg's win at Bremen moved them up to 16th and close to escaping the bottom three.

Mainz 05 continued their recent stunning form with a 2-1 win at Hertha Berlin, their fifth match in a row without defeat.