GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany - When German teams are locked in a title showdown with Bayern Munich they often tend to fold like a cards player holding a bad hand and Schalke 04's 2-1 defeat by lowly Mainz 05 on Sunday suggest the Ruhr club may be the latest team to choke under the pressure.
Schalke spent four months trying to overtake German powerhouse Munich at the Bundesliga summit and finally achieved it last weekend with a 1-0 win over Bayern.
With nine games remaining Schalke had a three-point cushion at the summit but after just a week they trail Bayern once again albeit it on goal difference.
Before Sunday's game at Mainz Bayern midfielder Michael Ballack heaped the pressure on Schalke claiming being the prey involves more pressure than playing the role of predator.
"Schalke do not have a lot of experience at the top and their last one was negative," crowed Ballack. "In 2001 we caught them and I am interested to see what goes on in their heads."
In the 2000/01 campaign Schalke were top at Christmas but it was Bayern who triumphed in May scoring in the fifth minute of stoppage time to net a 1-1 draw against SV Hamburg and deny Schalke the German title.
Schalke defeated Bayern twice in that season - mirroring their two 1-0 wins over Munich in this campaign - but holding their nerve is a differet thing all together.
"Schalke get title jitters," declared daily Bild. "Just a week at the summit as Bayern gleefully accept top spot."
Bayern defeated Hansa Rostock 3-1 on Saturday and Schalke manager Ralf Rangnick acknowledged the pressure was on.
"I always said the match after Bayern would be the most difficult," confessed Rangnick. "We are disappointed but there is still a long way to go." Eight games and 24 points are up for grabs but the bookmakers have made Bayern favourites with Schalke having a far tougher run-in.
Games against VfB Stuttgart, SV Hamburg, Hertha Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen should more than test Schalke's credentials.
In contrast Bayern play teams in the bottom half such as VfL Bochum, Borussia Monchengladbach, FC Nuremberg and Mainz 05.
"We are looking up at Bayern and should think of the chance we have rather than worry about the risks," vowed Schalke goalkeeper Frank Rost.
However, any more slips and the Gelsenkirchen club can bid 'Auf Wiedersehen' to a first title since 1958 and face being burdened with the choker tag usually reserved for habitual bridesmaids Bayer Leverkusen.
03/22/2005 01:15 GMT