Hoffenheim march on

Hoffenheim made it three Bundesliga wins from three with a well-deserved victory over struggling big-spenders Schalke.

Centre-half Isaac Vorsah's header late in the first half put the hosts ahead at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena while pointless Schalke failed to come up with any tangible response.

Deep into added time, Jermaine Jones' free-kick hit the post and went in off Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to complete the win for Hoffenheim.

Striker Vedad Ibisevic carved out the first chance for Hoffenheim six minutes in, making a clever run and breaching the defence only to be tracked down by Christoph Metzelder who cleared well.

Schalke had a chance of their own when Edu crossed for Klaas Jan Huntelaar, who could only slice his effort.

Ibisevic continued to be a thorn in the visitors' side and forced a save from Neuer before knocking the rebound just wide.

Eight minutes before the break the deadlock was broken. Andreas Beck's corner found Vorsah perfectly and he was able to rise and head home.

Ibisevic missed an opportunity to extend the lead after 58 minutes when he fired wide and two minutes later Huntelaar's powerful header was well saved by Tom Starke.

It was Hoffenheim, rather than the trailing visitors, who were pressing on goal. Boris Vukcevic took on two defenders and tried his luck only for his shot to hit the side-netting.

Metzelder had a chance in the last minute but was denied smartly by Starke and that proved to be Schalke's last hurrah.

Three minutes into injury time Jones took a free-kick from right on the edge of the box. He beat the wall and saw his bending shot hit the right post, only for Neuer to react slowly and allow the ball to bounce off him and into the net to compound a miserable evening for Felix Magath's men.