Königsblauen win third in a row

Die Königsblauen surprising upswing under the caretaker coaching triumvirate of Mike Büskens, Youri Mulder and Oliver Reck with a 4-0 slaughter of Energie Cottbus. With their third successive victory Schalke is within reach of a Europa League spot as they enter the final six weeks of the season.

Bojan Prašnikar's Lausitzer side were victimized early in the match as Schalke aggressively poured forward. Christian Pander gave Schalke the lead four minutes in as he struck from outside the box and with a slight deflection of Cottbus defender Mariusz Kukiełka, found the back of the net. The lead was doubled nineteen minutes later as Jermaine Jones linked the ball to Kevin Kurányi with Turkish international Halil Altintop being played through and pounding the ball in from the top of the box. After a series of misses Schalke finally broke through on the hour as Kurányi sent the ball across to Altintop who played through Jermaine Jones alone on the 'keeper before sending the ball in. With two minutes remaining in regulation time the Cottbus defending problems were exposed again as Orlando Engelaar's long cross found Kevin Kurányi near the six-yard box, which he chested down and then sent in for the fourth and final goal.

Schalke's race for a Europa League spot continues next week as they look to continue Bayern München demise.