Mainz 05 have taken a 2-0 lead into half time in their Bundesliga match against Schalke 04 this evening after Stefan Bell scored twice in three minutes.
The visitors looked the more likely in the early stages as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar twice tested Loris Karius in the opening five minutes, but the Mainz keeper was equal to both shots.
Huntelaar was on the charge again shortly after, this time setting up Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting from close range, but his striker partner could only put it wide against his former club.
Despite Schalke's dominant start, it was the home side who opened the scoring just short of the half-hour mark as Niko Bungert knocked the ball down for Bell, leaving the defender to slot past Ralf Fahrmann.
Bell needed just three minutes to add his second after Joel Matip failed to time his jump while defending a set piece, leaving the defender a free header for just his third goal of the season.
Mainz could have added a third before the interval as Johannes Geis tried his luck from a long-range free kick, but Fahrmann just recovered in time to tip it behind.
Sian Cowper
