Schalke 04 have moved into the top three in the keenly contested race to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) with an impressive 2-0 win at 10-man Bayer Leverkusen in their German Bundesliga Matchday 24 clash at the Bay Arena on Sunday.

Guido Burgstaller gave the visitors an early lead in the 11th minute before Leverkusen had Dominik Kohr sent off for two yellow cards some seven minutes before the interval.

Schalke 04 didn’t make most of the numerical advantage until Algerian midfielder Nabil Bentaleb wrapped up the 2-0 victory from the spot with one minute left.

The win takes Schalke 04 from 6th to 3rd spot with 40 points while their opponents drop from 4th to 5th position in the race for UCL football.

In the other game played on Sunday, FC Cologne produced an impressive comeback win over their more fancied hosts RB Leipzig.

Second half goals from Leonardo Bittencourt and Vincent Koziello overturned the 5th minute opener scored by Jean-Kevin Augustin to give FC Cologne a 2-1 win.

The victory moves bottom club Cologne to 17 points and within eight points of safety while Leipzig (38 points) drop from 5th to 6th spot on the log.