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Bundesliga leaders Schalke held by Hoffenheim

  • Story Highlights
  • German Bundesliga leaders Schalke lose their 100 percent record this season
  • Schalke are held 0-0 at Hoffenheim who had only one point ahead of the game
  • Germany keeper Manuel Neuer makes some fine saves to earn Schalke point
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(CNN) -- German Bundesliga leaders Schalke have lost their 100 per cent record this season as Hoffenheim failed to turn their domination into goals in a 0-0 draw on Friday.

Neither side could find a way through as Hoffenheim and Schalke shared a goalless draw on Friday.

Neither side could find a way through as Hoffenheim and Schalke shared a goalless draw on Friday.

The Gelsenkirchen side had six points coming into the match compared to Hoffenheim's one but it was the hosts who made all the running, going close four times in the first half.

After four minutes Chinedu Obasi crossed low for Vedad Ibisevic, whose shot from six yards was well saved by Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

After 16 minutes, Ibisevic found Sejad Salihovic, who was unmarked in the box and shot from 12 yards, but his effort was cleared off the line by Schalke's Marcelo Bordon.

Hoffenheim continued to dominate and two minutes later Salihovic's free-kick from the right byline nearly embarrassed Neuer, who had to palm the ball away desperately.

And four minutes from half-time, Ibisevic had another good chance but his glancing header from Andreas Beck's cross went narrowly wide.

Hoffenheim began the second half as they ended the first. Obasi and Demba Ba combined well, setting up Ibisevic whose left-footed eight-yard effort was well saved by Neuer.

Schalke finally worried home keeper Timo Hildebrand just before the hour mark, the former Valencia stopper scrambling across goal to turn Rafinha's 35-yard dipping, angled free-kick over the bar.

But in general it was Hoffenheim who looked the side more likely, going close again with a vicious Salihovic free-kick, which went just wide, and Ba's header, which was held by Neuer.

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