Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored twice within three second-half minutes as Schalke continued their march up the Bundesliga with a convincing 3-1 victory at home over Hoffenheim.
Raul opened the scoring in the 28th minute for Schalke before Vedad Ibisevic equalised in the 63rd minute.
Huntelaar converted a penalty to give Schalke back the lead in the 73rd minute and struck a second time in the 76th minute to decide the game.
Schalke have now won four of their last five games to improve to 21 points from 11 matches. Hoffenheim remain on 16 points.
Schalke had the first chance of the game after 18 minutes with Julian Draxler's shot from 19 yards hitting the left-hand post.
The hosts took the lead 10 minutes later with Draxler finding space on the left side and crossing to Raul, whose shot went off his own arm and into the goal.
Schalke nearly doubled their lead in the 45th minute but Hoffenheim goalkeeper Tom Starke stopped Huntelaar's shot.
Hoffenheim equalised after 63 minutes on a superb strike from Ibisevic, who volleyed Ryan Babel's cross from the right past Schalke goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall.
Starke made a superb save to keep his team in the game five minutes later, stopping Huntelaar's header.
But the Dutchman picked up his goal in the 73rd minute from the spot. Hoffenheim defender Marvin Compper fouled Huntelaar in the box and the striker took the kick himself.
Starke got a foot on Huntelaar's shot but could not keep it out.
Huntelaar was in the right place at the right time and scored again three minutes later. Starke stopped Draxler's shot but the rebound fell to Huntelaar, who pounced on the loose ball for his 10th Bundesliga goal of the season and 21st with Schalke in 2011.
