League Leaders

Piotr Trochowski scored for Hamburg in the first half, while Benedikt Hoewedes equalized for the visitors in the 48th minute.

Hamburg on Sunday, Oct. 19, moved past Bundesliga rookies 1899 Hoffenheim, who are on 16 points, while Hamburg have 17.

Hamburg coach Martin Jol said that his side was disappointed after conceding the goal. "We should have scored a second one in the first half and then it would have been much easier, but I can live with a draw."

His Schalke counterpart, Fred Rutten, described the draw as a fair result. "We went into the game knowing that we could score a goal and even though Hamburg was the better side in the first half, we did well in the second and I think we deserved a draw."

The home side completely dominated the first half, but needed an error from Dutch midfielder Orlando Engelaar whose pass to a teammate was intercepted by David Jarolim.

Hamburg miss golden opportunity

Jarolim passed to Trochowski, who fresh from scoring Germany's 1-0 World Cup qualifier winner against Wales on Wednesday, fired a right-footed shot that left goalkeeper Manuel Neuer without a chance.

But even though the home side continued stringing together excellent passes and had much more of the possession, they failed to create any real chances. Schalke managed to find an equalizer three minutes after the break through Hoewedes, who was left unmarked in the area after a freekick and headed home.

Striker Kevin Kuranyi, who was playing his first game since being thrown out of the national team by Germany coach Joachim Loew, was booed throughout the game by the partisan crowd, who also chanted, "Kuranyi, never again for Germany."

The 26-year-old, who seemed out of sorts throughout the game, was substituted on the hour for Gerald Asamoah.

Hamburg should have taken the lead in the 64th minute when Ivica Olic crossed the ball into the middle from the left flank, but even though Mladen Petric had the goal at his mercy after Neuer and the Schalke defenders had missed the ball, the striker hit the post.

The game then lost some of its pace as neither side managed to find the breakthrough needed to score another goal.

On Saturday Hoffenheim temporarily moved to the top of the table with a 5-2 victory at Hanover 96, while Bayern Munich won their first game in four, beating SC Karlsruhe 1-0.

Bayer Leverkusen, who won 2-0 at bottom club Eintracht Frankfurt, are third in the table with 15 points.