Schalke win ends Leverkusen's three game streak
New signings give team a boost against fellow Champions League contenders Leverkusen
Schalke 04 beat fellow Champions League contenders Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on Saturday to notch their first win of the season and end their opponents' three-game winning streak.
Schalke, with this week's new signings Kevin-Prince Boateng and Dennis Aogo in the lineup, took the lead on the half-hour with Marco Hoeger's glancing header from a Jefferson Farfan free kick.
Buoyed by their midweek qualification for the Champions League group stage, Schalke were more aggressive and Boateng could have grabbed a goal on his debut but Leverkusen keeper Bernd Leno saved his header from point-blank range.
"I am very proud of the team because we had two very busy weeks," said Schalke coach Jens Keller, who will feel some of the pressure lifted after a bad start to the season.
"Kevin-Prince Boateng was very good today but I also want to mention Aogo, who shut out Sidney Sam."
Despite controlling the game against a surprisingly toothless Leverkusen, who had won eight straight league games stretching back to last season, Schalke had to wait until the 83rd minute to seal victory.
Peru international Farfan converted a penalty after he was brought down by Emir Spahic to end any Leverkusen hopes of an equaliser.