Schalke beat archrivals Dortmund 2-1 sending a warning signal to Galatasaray

FRANKFURT - The Associated Press

Schalke's defender Benedikt Hoewedes (R) reacts after the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Schalke 04 vs Borussia Dortmund in the German city of Gelsenkirchen on March 9, 2013. Schalke won 2-1. AFP photo

Schalke 04, Galatasaray's rivals in this week's Champions League last 16 game, clinched a prestigious victory in the Ruhr derby against archrivals and defending champion Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on March 9.

19-year-old forward Julian Draxler celebrated his 100th match for Schalke by scoring in the 11th after connecting with a cross from Atsuto Uchida and driving the ball in with his right foot from close range.

Schalke dominated play and Draxler had another effort foiled by Dortmund's goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller, who had also turned away a volley by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar earlier.

But Huntelaar got his goal in the 35th, after another perfect cross from Uchida. Huntelaar was left unmarked by Neven Subotic and the Dutchman had little trouble heading home from point-blank range.

Huntelaar injured

Dortmund, coming off an impressive 3-0 win over Shakhtar in the Champions League, began the second half with much more determination and Timo Hildebrandt had to dive to intercepts a pass intended for Robert Lewandowski. Schalke then lost Huntelaar to a left knee injury.

In the 59th, Lewandowski cut the deficit when he beat Joel Matip's offside trap and slotted past Hildebrandt for his league-high 17th goals of the season.

Another error by Subotic allowed Draxler to play Teemu Pukki free, but his shot was blocked. Jefferson Farfan then failed to make Schalke's win even more convincing when he sent his shot sky-high instead into the empty net.

Pukki wasted another late chance but Schalke won its third in a row to climb to fourth, which means a slot in qualifying for the Champions League. Schalke plays Galatasaray for a quarter finals spot on March 12. Hildebrandt protected the victory by stopping an effort by Lewandowski in the 88th with his shoulder.

"We got off to a really poor start and then we gave them chances because we'd thrown everything into attack," Dortmund's coach Juergen Klopp said.