Stuttgart vs. Schalke: Final score 3-1, Ibisevic hat trick downs Schalke

Stuttgart beat Schalke 3-1 to move into a European place in the table. The win is Stuttgart's third in a row, while Schalke are winless in their last five.

Vedad Ibisevic was the hero on the day with a hat trick including two in the first half. The first goal came in the second minute, when Ibisevic knocked in a cross from Ibrahima Traore. Schalke came back ten minutes later for the equalizer. Jermaine Jones sent in a cross that Ciprian Marica knocked past Sven Ulreich to even the score.

It looked like we were heading into a tied halftime, but Christian Fuchs fouled Christian Gentner in the penalty area to concede a penalty. Ibisevic stepped up to take the spot kick and smashed it past Timo Hildebrand for the 2-1 halftime lead.

Stuttgart came out pressing to start the second half, and Ibisevic found his third. Raphael Holzhauser found himself behind the Schalke defense, but Hildebrand saved his shot. Ibisevic was on hand to knock in the rebound to make it 3-1.

Gotoku Sakai was sent off for Stuttgart giving Schalke renewed life, but it only last six minutes as Jones followed him to the locker room early. Stuttgart are up to 6th in the table with the win, while Schalke have fallen to fifth.