Werder Bremen loses after the gala – and Schalke 04 fights back to the top: just six days after Werder's clear victory in a direct duel, the lead in the 2nd Bundesliga has changed again.

At the start of the 32nd match day, Bremen lost to Holstein Kiel 2:3 (2:1) after a 2:0 lead, while Schalke 04 overtook SV Sandhausen 2:1 (0:0).

Werder took first place last matchday with a 4-1 win over Schalke.

Werder (57 points) is now two points behind Schalke again, the lead on relegation place three is three points for the time being.

Behind them, FC St. Pauli (54) again failed to turn the tide.

The team coached by Timo Schultz did not get more than 1-1 (0-0) against 1. FC Nürnberg and missed the leap to the relegation place after the fifth game in a row without a win.

On Saturday, Darmstadt 98 can pull away to three points with a win over Erzgebirge Aue.

Further down in the table, Fortuna Düsseldorf made it clear that they would remain in the class.

Daniel Thioune's team won 3-1 (2-0) at 1. FC Heidenheim and, with 41 points, can no longer slip to the relegation place.

Hannover 96 is very close to being rescued. Lower Saxony won 2-0 (1-0) against Karlsruher SC and increased the gap to Dynamo Dresden and the relegation rank to nine points - the Saxons can only do so in their three remaining games tie on points.

In Bremen, the top scorers Niclas Füllkrug (2nd) and Marvin Ducksch (23rd, hand penalty according to video evidence) were also successful against Kiel, but two own goals by Füllkrug (45th + 2nd) and Anthony Jung (71st) ensured the equalizer.

Julian Korb (85th) then decided the game late.

Meanwhile, Schalke was able to rely on Simon Terodde again.

The striker secured his sixth win in seven games under coach Mike Büskens with his 26 and 27 goals this season (71st, 90th + 1).

Dennis Diekmeier (83rd) had equalized in the meantime.

Alou Kuol saw the red card for gross foul play in injury time (90 + 5).

Meanwhile, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (74', penalty kick) gave St. Pauli the lead, and for a long time it seemed as if the negative series could end.

But Taylan Duman (90+2) struck back for the Franks in injury time.

Jakub Piotrowski (20th), Felix Klaus (33rd) and Christoph Klarer (56th) secured the league for Düsseldorf, which is still unbeaten under Thioune.

Maurice Malone's interim connection (47th) for Heidenheim was of no value.

Center forward Hendrik Weydandt (25th) with a header and Maximilian Beier (90th + 4) scored for Hannover, which is now looking to Dresden on Saturday: Competitor Dynamo is under pressure there against Jahn Regensburg.