Javier Hernandez forces Schalke own goal, Bayer salvage draw

The battle for European qualification remains the most exciting feature in the Bundesliga where every point counts -€“ even as early as matchday 14. A 1-1 draw between Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke probably does neither team the world of good having come off the back of difficult periods in the league.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's 50th minute strike was cancelled out late on by an own goal from Sascha Riether. With a point, Leverkusen holds on to sixth-place, while Schalke languish down in eighth and out of the European spots. The Royal Blues' seven-game streak without a victory came to an end in midweek, albeit the result of a less than inspiring performance against APOEL Nicosia in the Europa League. But the longer that run went on, the less room for Andre Breitenreiter to take risks in his team selection. Indeed, he made four changes to his team: Riether returned at right-back, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg started in the middle while Max Meyer propped up the attack.

With Hamburg, Hertha, Mainz and the resurgent Borussia Monchengladbach lessening the margin for error, Leverkusen and Schalke were already involved in a six-pointer. However, this clutch of German clubs are remarkably inconsistent; the recent surprise packages like Augsburg and in previous years Hannover taking full advantage of bigger sides' failings.

It hasn't filtered out of the club at all, but the patience on Roger Schmidt must have been wearing thin before the Champions League win over BATE Borisov. For all of Schmidt's ideas of pressing in packs, the Werkself are wide open at the back as a consequence. The same pattern followed last season and only when the Leverkusen coach stabilized defence, the side went on to qualify for the Champions League. For the visit of Schalke, who have similar defensive concerns, Omer Toprak and Sebastian Bosenich returned to the side with Wendell and Andre Ramalho dropping to the bench.

However, the early exchanges were all Schalke and Bernd Leno was the busiest of the two shot-stoppers. Leno plucked out a header from Benedikt Howedes before another from Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting. The prodigious Meyer, a homegrown talent from Schalke's highly-successful academy, was canny in his movement between the lines. Sane, on the right, was a kept in check with the play roaring from end-to-end down the middle.

But Leverkusen carried a threat going forward and were unfortunate not to lead by the break. Kevin Kampl's long-range shot had power, but not enough to beat the keeper midway through the half. Bellarabi's individual brilliance on 30 minutes deserved more than cracking the underside of the bar. The German winger raced clear of several Schalke players, charging into the box before smashing his shot past Fahrmann but against the woodwork. Two minutes before the interval, Chicharito went on a solo-run and shot wide while Bellarabi prodded an effort past the target.

Yet the manner of Schalke's opener was all too predictable. The Royal Blues found space between Leverkusen's defense and midfield, the ball from Leon Goretzka was inch-perfect and Choupo-Moting supplied the finish. The Cameroonian striker capped off a fine week for him after scoring the match-winner on Thursday in Europe. Minutes later, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's back-post header was a few inches over Leno's crossbar.

Having bagged seven goals in his last 10 games, Javier Hernandez has become the reliable source of goals for Schmidt and Leverkusen. The Mexican certainly didn't have his shooting boots on as the frustration began to get the better of him. One effort on 56 minute didn't trouble Leno, while he missed a good chance, set up by Bellarabi on the hour mark.

Towards the last 15 minutes, the former Man United striker was even getting in the way of his own teammates. However, Chicharito played an important role in Leverkusen's equalizer on 85 minutes. Kevin Kampl slid a through ball into his path, the striker shooting on target, but the deflection from Fahrmann's stop struck Riether and found the net to end the match all square.

Breitenreiter and Schmidt aren't under any significant pressure at the moment, but if performances and results don't improve for two of the leading German sides, getting back into the Champions League might be out of the picture.