Schalke maintained their one-point lead on top of the Bundesliga following a 1-0 home victory over Nurnberg while Stuttgart kept up title pursuit with a 2-0 win over Mohamed Zidan's Mainz. Schalke needed a 63rd minute goal by top scorer Kevin Kuranyi to beat a resilient Nurnberg side, who played the last 10 minutes with a man down, following Tomas Galasek's red card. Schalke keep their supremacy at the top with 65 points, one ahead of second-placed Stuttgart while Nurnberg are fifth on 45 as they push for a UEFA Cup spot. At the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, Stuttgart easily beat strugglers Mainz by two goals from Portugeuse defender Fernando Meira (26) and midfielder Roberto Hilbert (64).
Zidan's Mainz near relegation Egyptian forward Zidan started the game but couldn't help Mainz end their seven-match winless streak, as their slim chances of keeping their top-flight status next season are fading. They lie second from bottom with 31 points, five adrift of the safety zone with two games remaining. Holders Bayern Munich were held by the officially relegated Borussia M'gladbach after Roy Makaay's 12th minute was cancelled out by Peer Kluge seven minutes after the break. Borussia Dortmund are guaranteed a stay in the Bundesliga after a 2-0 away win at Wolfsburg, courtesy of goals from Ebi Smolarek and Nelson Valdez.
