Schalke remained hot on the heels of the Bundesliga leaders with a hard-earned victory at struggling Stuttgart.
Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring in the 24th minute for the visitors and, after Stuttgart level 17 minutes from time, Kevin Kuranyi restored Schalke's lead just three minutes later to continue the dire streak of his former team.
Stuttgart have won just once in their last seven Bundesliga games and, with eight points, are closer to the relegation zone in 13! th place than the Europa League spots.
Schalke have now collected four victories in their last five games and have 19 points - leaving them third in the table behind Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburg.
In rainy Stuttgart, Schalke struck midway through the first half when Rafinha's high cross from the right was not cleared by Stuttgart's Stefano Celozzi and Rakitic made him pay, beating helpless keeper Jens Lehmann.
Stuttgart nearly equalised just two minutes later but Cacau's shot went just wide of the far post.
Cacau was denied by Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer just after the half-hour mark and Zdravko Kuzmanovic fired the rebound over the crossbar.
Kuzmanovic again shot over 12 minutes after the break but Stuttgart finally got their equaliser after 73 minutes. Julian Schieber raced down the right side of the area and crossed to Cacau, who slotted home his first Bundesliga goal of the season.
The home fans had little time to enjoy the goal ! as former Stuttgart striker Kuranyi restored Schalke's lead ju! st three minutes later. Rafinha delivered a through-ball and Kuranyi finished across Lehmann and inside the far post.
Lehmann made a superb save from Jefferson Farfan with nine minutes left to keep his team in the game but they could not find an equaliser.
