Schalke's title hopes in tatters after Hamburg defeat

Schalke remain 10 points off the pace in the Bundesliga after they lost 3-1 to Hamburg away from home tonight.

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After a barren first 45 minutes at the Imtech Arena, the game burst into life in the 52nd minute when Maximilian Beister shot home past Lars Unnerstall from outside the penalty area.

Beister turned creator for Hamburg's second in the 65th minute when he backheeled the ball to Dennis Diekmeier, whose cross was fired in by Artjoms Rudnevs from close range.

Schalke got a lifeline 10 minutes from time when Tomas Rincon was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the Schalke penalty area.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar saw his spot kick saved by Rene Adler, but followed up to tuck in the rebound.

Hamburg themselves earned a penalty in injury time when Tranquillo Barnetta committed a foul on Dennis Aogo inside the Hamburg 18-yard box.

Milan Badelj stepped up to take the spot kick and made no mistake from 12 yards.

The defeat means that Schalke are now third in the Bundesliga table, 10 points behind leaders Bayern Munich, who take on Freiburg on Wednesday.