Berlin, April 29 (IANS)
Dutch international and Schalke striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored a hat-trick to help his team hammer Hamburg 4-1, to close the 31st round of the German Bundesliga.
Schalke’s win Sunday helped them cement their fourth position, a UEFA Champions League play-off spot, reports Xinhua.
It was Hamburg’s first loss after two straight wins and they stay in the eighth position.
Hamburg opened the scoring but Schalke came from behind to wrap up the 14th win of the season courtesy Huntelaar’s hat trick after his comeback following a long-term injury.
Elsewhere, Mainz and Frankfurt secured a point following a goalless draw in the local derby.
The draw lifts Frankfurt to fifth position, still on course for Europe, whilst Mainz slipped from 9th to 10th position, six points away from the top six.