Schalke climbed to fourth in the Bundesliga thanks to a dramatic 3-1 win over Cologne which could so easily have ended in defeat for the Royal Blues.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar gave Schalke the lead with a penalty awarded inside the first minute of the game and Max Meyer doubled their advantage midway through the first half.
Ralf Fahrmann was earning his wages in the Schalke goal with a succession of fine saves, but he was beaten by Leonardo Bittencourt, who grabbed a long overdue goal for the hosts.
Chances were wasted at both ends before Franco Di Santo scored his second goal of the season only minutes after coming on as a substitute, meeting Dennis Aogo's cross at the near post to give Schalke a two-goal cushion.
Fahrmann again excelled to prevent Cologne from recovering as Andre Breitenreiter's men held on to their second straight win, moving them above Borussia Monchengladbach into fourth.
ends