The Royal Blues were looking to get revenge on their season opener defeat to Hannover 96. Schalke were without Ralf Fahrmann, which gave Fabian Giefer a chance to put his teammate on the bench, Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting was drafted in following his countries early African Cup of Nations exit.

Schalke dominated the first half having six shots in comparison to Hannover’s two but they failed to test Ron-Robert Zieler.

With some good luck the breakthrough came, Christian Fuchs burst down the near side, cut back across the box to Marco Höger who slotted left footed past World Cup winner Zieler, this goal came rather fortunately as it had to get through a sea of Red shirts to break the deadlock.

Soon after the it was broken, Hannover’s Joselu very nearly equalised, he left Jan Kirchhoff for dead and jinked past Fabian Giefer but captain Benedikt Höwedes was there and done enough to put off the Spaniard to keep the game to 1-0 to the home side.  Schalke went in at the break leading.

The second half brought no goals but an awful lot of excitement. Hannover started out the blocks strong creating opportunities as Kiyotake’s effort bobbled along the box but no Hannover player could get to it.

However, despite Hannover’s fiery start to the half throughout the half they failed to test the Schalke back-up keeper only managing a shot on target.

Schalke got back into the swing of things managing to double the shots they had in the first half testing Zieler four times in the half, debutant Matija Nastasic forced a good save from the opposition 'keeper, his header from six yards parried away.

The game itself was overshadowed by Schalke talisman Klaas Jan Huntelaar, he had a bad day at the office and was sent off with five minutes remaining following which the referee deemed dangerous tackle from behind.

A three-match ban minimum looms for the Dutchmen, meaning he will miss a huge game against Bayern Munich on Tuesday ahead of their pursuit for Champions League football.

Win for Schalke moves them up to fourth, level on points with Borussia Mönchengladbach who sit in third. Seven points behind second placed Wolfsburg.

The Royal Blues face a enourmously difficult game in midweek against Bayern Munich at the Allianz, the task is made even more difficult as they will be without Huntelaar, who has scored seven this season in the blue of Schalke.

As for the visitors, Hannover 96, they sit eighth. They were lucky not to concede more than one but also unlucky not to snatch a vital point. They next play in-form Mainz, who come off the back of a 5-0 rout over Paderborn.