Rakitic, a summer signing from Swiss-side Basel, grabbed the equaliser in the 76th minute after Stuttgart had struck twice in four minutes to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead in the opening game of the German season featuring last season's top two.

Schalke opened the scoring when Levan Kobiashvili poached a first-half goal, before Stuttgart's Sami Khedira struck just after the hour mark and Mexican midfielder Pavel Pardo converted a penalty to put the champions in the lead.

But 19-year-old Croat Rakitic grabbed his moment of glory to slot home a well-struck goal.

Having seen his side squander their lead, Stuttgart coach Armin Veh was less than happy with the final result.

"We played well, but I am not pleased with the result as we had far more of the play," he said.

"We should have finished our chances, especially as there were a few spaces after Schalke opened the scoring."

In contrast, Schalke coach Mirko Slomka was pleased to leave Stuttgart with a point.

"It is unbelievably difficult to win at Stuttgart. They have a class team," he said.

"I am glad to come away with a point, because Stuttgart were far more active in the second-half and we haven't won here for quite a while."

The home side were crowned German champions for the fifth time last season when Schalke stumbled in the final stages allowing Veh's side to seal the title while they grabbed second spot.

In a game watched by a sell-out 57,500 crowd, Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi picked up the first yellow card of the new season after 11 minutes when he sent Stuttgart defender Serdar Tasci tumbling.

Schalke took a fortuitous lead when Georgian midfielder Kobiashvili hit a 25th minute shot which deflected off the ankle of Stuttgart's defender Roberto Hilbert and spun into the empty net with goalkeeper Raphael Schaefer covering the other post.

Stuttgart's new signing, Romanian striker Ciprian Marica was booked for continuing his run deep into the Schalke defence long after the whistle had blown with half-time approaching.

With Schalke leading 1-0 at the break, the Royal Blues just missed a chance to go 2-0 up on 53 minutes when defender Christian Pander drove a direct free-kick just wide of the post.

The game's tempo picked up a pace with three yellow cards in four minutes, but the defending champions were back on level terms when 20-year-old midfielder Khedira unleashed a thunderbolt shot from 30 yards which beat Manuel Neuer on 63 minutes.

Stuttgart took the lead when Neuer brought down Marica in the penalty area after a fierce shot by Brazilian Cacau and Mexican midfielder Pardo smashed home the spotkick on 67 minutes.

But Kobiashvili's replacement Rakitic struck with 14 minutes left to earn a share of the points.