Champions League semi-finalists Schalke 04 had to come from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw at Werder Bremen on Saturday night when they returned to German league action.
Schalke booked a semi-final clash with Premier League giants Manchester United on Wednesday when they beat holders Inter 2-1 at home to win their quarter-final clash after shocking the Italians 5-2 at the San Siro.
The Royal Blues now face Sir Alex Ferguson’s United side on Tuesday, April 26 at the Veltins Arena in the semi-final first leg, but they had to fight back to share the points in the Bundesliga at mid-table Bremen.
Bremen went ahead when striker Sandro Wagner was fouled in the penalty area and the 23-year-old netted the rebound after his 59th-minute spot-kick was saved.
However, the Royal Blues produced the perfect response when Raul fired in a cross that Edu finished with a bullet header on 63 minutes.
Earlier, a late equalizer by VfL Wolfsburg secured a 2-2 draw at home to St Pauli to give the 2009 Bundesliga champions a fighting chance of escaping the drop zone.
Wolfsburg, coached by Felix Magath, who led them to the title only two years ago, are third from bottom and four points from safety with four games left before the season finishes on May 14.
After fellow relegation candidates St Pauli took a late 2-1 lead, a header from Czech midfielder Jan Polak with a minute left gave Wolves a crucial point.
The last two in the Bundesliga are relegated automatically, but the side third from bottom faces a play-off against the side third from top in the second division for the right to play in Germany’s top flight next season.
Third-placed Hannover 96 were held to a goalless draw by Hamburg.
Hannover are on course to go into the play-off for a Champions League place, but they cannot now catch second-placed Leverkusen, who are 13 points ahead.
Dortmund remain on course for their first league title since 2002 as they enjoy a five-point lead over Leverkusen.
Stuttgart pulled away from the drop zone with a 3-1 win at Cologne to put four points between themselves and the bottom three.
Roberto Firmino scored his first goal for Hoffenheim with a 78th-minute strike to earn a 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
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