Julian Draxler's stunning strike helps Schalke 04 beat Swiss side Basel

Julian Draxler scored a stunning goal to earn Schalke 04 a 1-0 victory at Basel in a Champions League group E game that was briefly interrupted by a Greenpeace protest.

In the fifth minute, activists dropped down from the stadium roof on cables to unfurl a banner criticising Russian state-owned Gazprom, sponsors of Schalke and the Champions League.

A spokesman for organisers Uefa said the incident would be reported and disciplinary proceedings could be launched.

Schalke fans also used pyrotechnics, which are banned by Uefa, at the start of the game.

The only goal came when a partially cleared corner fell to Draxler 25 metres out and, although it bounced to him at an awkward height, he struck a superb rising shot into the top corner in the 54th minute.

Victory gave the Germans six points from two games and a three-point lead over Basel and Chelsea, who defeated rock bottom Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in Romania.

Schalke coach Jens Keller was almost as happy that his defence kept a clean sheet after they had conceded 16 goals in seven Bundesliga outings including a 3-3 draw at Hoffenheim on Saturday.