Schalke 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen: Kuranyi, Sanchez Strike Late as Visitors Waste 2-0 Lead

In somewhat of a surprise move, Schalke coach Felix Magath opted to start Lewis Holtby in the playmaker's role. In an attempt to stack his team's best defense against Leverkusen's left side, Benedikt Hoewedes was started at right back, moving Rafinha to the right side of midfield.

Juup Heynckes made just a single change to the team that drew 1-1 with Dortmund last Friday: Stefan Reinartz started in place of Lars Bender.

Holtby adjusted to his new position with apparent ease, beating Daniel Schwaab after just three minutes. The Leverkusen right-back took down Holtby, however, to concede a free kick on the edge of the penalty area.

As expected, Leverkusen won the vast majority of possession, but Schalke's defense held well. Aside from an errant Eren Derdiyok header and a no-call on what could have been a penalty, the visitors were unable to break through Schalke's impressive defense.

Leverkusen were also impressive at the back, although a Manuel Friedrich error nearly cost Bayer the opener. Friedrich was far too casual, and was dispossessed by Kevin Kuranyi, who played to Jefferson Farfan. Schwaab recovered brilliantly to force the Peruvian striker into a difficult position, from which he missed wide. Four minutes later, Holtby found Kuranyi in the penalty area, but the striker scuffed his shot and Rene Adler had little to do to save.

The visitors were first to strike, and did so just before the half hour. After a corner, Toni Kroos struck a low, 20-yard drive past Manuel Neuer to give his side the lead.

More bad news for Schalke came when Holtby was forced to withdraw in the 41st minute. Vicente Sanchez came on for his injured colleague, and Farfan moved back into the playmaker's role.

With a minute to go in the half, Leverkusen struck again; this time, Stefan Kiessling headed in a Tranquillo Barnetta free kick. In added time, Kiessling nearly headed in a second, but Neuer made a wonder save as Schalke entered the half down 2-0 for the second time in as many weeks.

Both coaches sent out unchanged squads for the second half, although Leverkusen changed their tactical approach. With a 2-0 lead, the visitors did what Hamburg could not do last week, and locked down the midfield.

Schalke caught a somewhat unlucky break on the hour mark, when Jefferson Farfan's goal was disallowed. Following a far-too-casual Sami Hyypia back pass to Rene Adler, Farfan won the ball and tapped in. However, the referee found that Farfan's challenge on Adler was illegal, and the goal was waived off.

With 23 minutes left to play, Felix Magath rolled the dice and brought on playmaker Ivan Rakitic for holding midfielder Christoph Moritz. Schalke began to show more signs of life late, but Leverkusen's defense held firm until the 83rd minute. At that time, a loose ball trickled around the six-yard box, and was neither struck on goal nor cleared. Kevin Kuranyi spotted the ball, and ushered it into the goal rather than fully striking.

After the rather bizarre Kuranyi goal, Schalke were back in the game, and pressed for the equalizer. Five minutes later, it was Sanchez who levelled, following some shaky defensive work from Lukas Sinkiewicz, who had been brought on in place of stalwart Sami Hyypia. Following a headed pass from Kuranyi, Sanchez beat Sinkiweicz and Adler to the ball, and made it 2-2.

Although the referee signaled three minutes of added time, his whistle blew just 2:45 after full time, and both sides left the pitch frustrated. The point was enough to put Leverkusen into sole possession of first place, whereas Schalke remain in fourth, now two points ahead of Bayern Munich.

Clark Whitney, Goal.com