The Gelsenkirchen club had managed just one victory in their previous seven outings to put pressure on coach Andre Breitenreiter but Cameroon forward Choupo-Moting struck in the 28th minute to give Schalke the lead they deserved on the basis of their first-half display.
Johannes Geis sent in a cross from the right towards the far post and it was not entirely clear whether the decisive touch came off Choupo-Moting or Hoffenheim’s Czech defender Pavel Kaderabek.
Dortmund's Aubameyang hits 27th goal of season
Before that Leon Goretzka had fired narrowly wide and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar forced a save out of Oliver Baumann, and while Hoffenheim improved after the break, they rarely looked like equalising, although Eduardo Vargas sent a shot just over.
Schalke sit on 27 points, courtesy eight wins, three draws and six losses, while Huub Stevens’ Hoffenheim remain in the relegation zone, a point from safety.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2015.
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