Bundesliga Week 28, Sunday Scores: Hannover Defeat Gladbach, Schalke Three Points Clear In Third

Hannover 2 - 1 Borussia Mönchengladbach

Borussia Mönchengladbach had the opportunity to put pressure on Schalke before their late match, but Mame Diouf's second half goal proved to be the difference as Hannover held on for a 2-1 victory.

After a fairly entertaining first half, Jan Schlaudraff had the opportunity to put the hosts up one, but Dante was able to get back in time to make a goal-saving block.

Didier Ya Konan opened the scoring in the second half when he slid to deflect Konstantin Rausch's shot past Marc Andre ter Stegen. The Ivory Coast international celebrated his fourth goal of the season, knowing how huge it was in their race for a Europa League place.

In the 76th minute, Schlaudraff put another cross in and Mame Diouf's header found the back of the net to give the hosts a 2-0 lead. Only minutes later, Havard Nordtveit found space up the middle and put a shot past Ron-Robert Zieler to put the visitors right back into the match.

Gladbach refused to die and continued to press. Zieler was forced into several brilliant saves at the end of the match on Marco Reus and Filip Daems to preserve the win.

The victory for Hannover sees them move into sole possession of fifth place in a Europa League spot. Gladbach stay in fourth place, but ten points ahead of Hannover.

Hoffenheim 1 -1 Schalke

Schalke entered the late match knowing that a victory would put five points between themselves and Gladbach for the third place spot in the table and pull them within four of Bayern Munich for second.

Well, that didn't work out like they hoped.

Hoffenheim converted a penalty in the 30th minute when Sven Schipplock was "fouled" by Lars Unnerstall. I say "fouled", because replays showed there was minimum to no contact at all between the two of them. Sejad Salihovic converted the penalty to give The Hoff a 1-0 lead.

The referee then took it upon himself to award Schalke a penalty in the 80th minute when Chinedu Obasi went down rather easily under the arm of Andreas Beck. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar stepped forward and scored the penalty to rescue a point.

The point is enough to pull Hoffenheim to the top of the group fighting relegation, and put Schalke three points ahead of Borussia Mönchengladbach.