The new Bundesliga season got off to a pulsating start on Friday as reigning champions Stuttgart were held to a 2-2 draw by the team they narrowly edged out for last season´s title, Schalke.
Levan Kobiashvili fired the visitors to the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion into the lead after 25 minutes, but Stuttgart hit back after the break through a Sami Khedira strike and a Pavel Pardo penalty to hand Armin Veh´s men the advantage.
But Schalke, showing some of the fighting spirit they lacked when they blew a commanding lead in last season´s title race, equalised with just 14 minutes remaining as substitute Ivan Rakitic raced through to score.
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