Jefferson Farfan and Raul were the masterminds of Schalke's win, with the Peruvian forward setting up all three goals and Raul netting two of them.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar also got in on the act, with his 24th goal of the season helping to take Schalke five points clear of fourth-placed Borussia Monchengladbach and just one more win away from guaranteeing a top-four finish.

Hannover, who like Schalke were knocked out of the Europa League on Thursday, remain in seventh position with five games of the season remaining.

Meanwhile, Hamburg remain in deep relegation trouble after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Bayer Leverkusen.

Sami Hyypia and Sascha Lewandowski were taking charge of their first game as Leverkusen's caretaker-coaches following the dismissal of Robin Dutt last Sunday.

But Mladen Petric gave the home side the lead with a penalty in the 40th minute, but a goal from Andre Schurrle soon after the break earned Leverkusen a point which keeps them in the hunt for a place in the Europa League.

Hamburg, meanwhile, are just two points above the drop zone with Thorsten Fink's side looking to preserve the only ever-present record in the top flight of German football.