Schalke denied top spot by Pitroipa's late goal

Schalke 04 were denied top spot in the Bundesliga when they were held 2-2 at Hamburg SV on Sunday after substitute Jonathan Pitroipa scored a late equaliser for the hosts.

Needing a win to overtake leaders Bayern Munich, Schalke fell behind to an opportunist goal from Ruud van Nistelrooy five minutes before halftime, the Dutchman's third in the Bundesliga since his move from Real Madrid.

Kevin Kuranyi levelled just after the hour with his 15th league goal of the season and Ivan Rakitic put Schalke ahead with a penalty, only for Burkina Faso forward Pitroipa to level with 13 minutes left.

Schalke were the only top three team to pick up a point at the weekend. Bayern were beaten 2-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, ending an unbeaten 19-match run in the league, and third-placed Bayer Leverkusen lost 3-0 at Dortmund.

Bayern stayed top with 56 points from 27 games but their lead over Schalke was cut to one point. Leverkusen are third with 53 points.

Schalke visit Leverkusen next week and host Bayern the week after that.