BERLIN, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Ishak Belfodil's brace helped Hoffenheim to ease 5-2 past struggling Schalke, and Leipzig sealed their fifth straight win after beating Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 at the 30th round of Bundesliga on Saturday.
Schalke grabbed the better start into the encounter as Guido Burgstaller ensured the first chance of the game.
However, Hoffenheim needed only one opportunity to break the deadlock as Ishak Belfodil nutmegged Matija Nastasic to slot home the opener from 18 meters with 25 minutes played.
Hoffenheim gained momentum and caught Schalke flat footed for the second time before the break as Kerem Demirbay's through ball allowed Andrej Kramaric to beat onrushing Schalke goalkeeper Alexander Nubel for the 2-0 lead in the 45th minute.
After the restart, Schalke increased the pressure and were able to reduce the arrears, as Daniel Caligiuri made no mistake to convert a foul-play penalty from eleven meters with an hour into the game.
Hoffenheim remained unimpressed and restored their two-goal lead only five minutes later to shock the visitors as Belfodil's pinpoint cross found Adam Szalai, who nodded home the 3-1 lead from inside the box.
The clinical hosts were not done with the scoring and added another goal to their lead in the 73rd minute when Nadiem Amiri made the most out of Kramaric's square pass.
Belfodil rounded off the win with his brace in the 80th minute before Schalke pulled one back through Guido Burgstaller to make it 5-2 on the scoreboards in the dying minutes of the game.
With the win, sixth placed Hoffenheim underline their ambitions to secure a berth in Europe for next season meanwhile Schalke stay on the 15th position of the table.
Elsewhere, third placed Leipzig made a big step towards a top-four finish and a berth for the UEFA Champions League as they overcame Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1.
Marcel Halstenberg provided his first career brace and smoothed the way for the fifth straight victory as Monchengladbach were only able to reduce the arrears through Alassane Plea.
Leipzig tighten their third place after recording their 18th win of the season whereas Monchengladbach remain on the 5th place.
The following fixtures are scheduled for Sunday: Freiburg host runner up Borussia Dortmund and Hertha Berlin encounter bottom side Hannover.
