Schalke 04 got Roberto Di Matteo's reign off to a winning start with a 2-0 Bundesliga win over Hertha Berlin.
Julian Draxler starred at the Veltins-Arena, providing Klaas Jan Huntelaar with the opener before adding his own name to the scoresheet to secure Schalke the points.
Veteran poacher Huntelaar passed up a couple of decent early chances before showing why he is rumoured to be a January target for both Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool by putting the hosts in front after 19 minutes.
The Dutchman cleverly looped a header from Draxler's cross over Thomas Kraft to halt what had been a positive Hertha start in its tracks, with the visitors having previously threatened through John Heitinga and Per Skjelbred.
Berlin continued to press for a goal after going behind as Roy Beerens dragged a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box, while Skjelbred tested Ralf Fahrmann with a stinging 25-yard drive.
The visitors maintained the ascendancy into the second period as Anis Ben-Hatira twice went close, forcing Fahrmann into a good save before guiding Fabian Lustenberger's cross narrowly by the post.
Against the run of play, Schalke scored a second which deflated Hertha spirits as Draxler picked up the ball 25 yards out and ran across the box to create room for an unstoppable left-footed shot.
Beerens and John Brooks missed chances which could have given Berlin a foothold in the game, as former Chelsea boss Di Matteo won his first match since succeeding Jens Keller to take Schalke into the top half of the table for the first time this season and leave the visitors 13th.
Joe Fish
