Schalke climbed to fourth in the German football Bundesliga with a 2-0 win over Mainz in Gelsenkirchen on Friday.
Leon Goretzka put Schalke on track in the 13th minute with a chip over keeper Rene Adler after being put through by Guido Burgstaller.
Thilo Kehrer came close to a second with a header from a free-kick which came back off the post before Burgstaller mopped up from close range in the 74th after Adler parried Naldo's header from a corner.
Mainz had to wait until nine minutes from time for their best chance when Kenan Kodro, just off the substitutes' bench, headed wide from a good position.
Schalke's win, following up a 2-0 victory at Hertha Berlin last weekend, puts Domenico Tedesco's side level on 16 points with third-placed RB Leipzig ahead of the weekend programme.
Leaders Borussia Dortmund (19) are at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday while champions Bayern Munich (17) visit struggling SV Hamburg, and Leipzig host VfB Stuttgart.
Mainz remain in midtable on 10 points, their poor away form - with only one win in their last 18 away games including last season -continuing.
Schalke 2- 0 Mainz
Week: 9
Veltins Arena
Referee: Bibiana Steinhaus
Away match
1 : 0 Half-time
Schalke Goals
13' Leon Goretzka
74' GUIDO BURGSTALLER
video Schalke 04 2 - 0 Mainz 05 - DOMENICO TEDESCO - Interview
