Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has scored a hat-trick as Schalke have beaten Hoffenheim 4-1 in the Bundesliga.
Schalke started brightly and won a corner within five minutes. From it Joel Matip nodded down for Huntelaar to finish from close range and give the hosts the perfect start.
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Hoffenheim responded well and could have been level twice inside another five minutes. First Kevin Volland had a strike saved, before Anthony Modeste dragged a shot wide of the post when well placed.
The away side continued to have a number of half-chances, but just before the half-hour mark Schalke went 2-0 ahead. Julian Draxler found him and the striker made no mistake with a low finish from the edge of the box.
Huntelaar could have had a 30-minute hat-trick, but after Eugen Polanski gave away a penalty, he missed the spot kick.
In the second half Schalke remained dominant with Chinedu Obasi scoring 10 minutes in for 3-0 and Huntelaar finally rounding off his hat-trick in the 80th minute.
Matt Domm
