Intro:

Fourth-placed Schalke 04 moved level on points with Bayer Leverkusen -- who occupy third spot -- in the Bundesliga table on Saturday. Die Königsblauen -- The Royal Blues -- thrashed Hoffenheim 4-0 at the Veltins-Arena, with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, 30, scoring a hat-trick. Sami Hyypiä's side were held to a 1-1 draw by Hannover 96 at the HDI-Arena. Borussia Dortmund can now move four points clear in second if they win at struggling Freiburg on Sunday.

Script:

March is possibly the worst time to hit a sticky patch and Leverkusen had lost five consecutive games in all competitions when they travelled to Hannover in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Creative midfielder Gonzalo Castro set about ending that run when he put them ahead.

But Artoms Rudnevs' equaliser for Hannover handed Borussia Dortmund the chance to go four points clear in second if they win at struggling Freiburg on Sunday.

Leverkusen travel to Paris Saint-Germain for the Champions League last-16 second-leg on Wednesday, which they trail by four away goals.

Fourth-placed Schalke moved level on points with Leverkusen by thrashing Hoffenheim.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar opened the scoring with a neat finish.

The 30-year-old grabbed his second with a left-foot shot akin to an archer's arrow.

Holland is renowned for its dams and Dutch striker Huntelaar was walking on water when he completed his hat-trick; his seventh goal in nine Bundesliga matches this season.