Wolfsburg, Germany  - Brazilian striker Grafite scored a hat-trick as Wolfsburg downed crisis-hit Schalke 4-3 to move within a point of leaders Hertha Berlin in the German Bundesliga on Friday.

Grafite scored from the penalty spot in the 26th minute and was again on target in the 74th and 84th minutes to take his tally to the season to 17.

The Brazilian also provided the cross for Bosnian strike partner Edin Dzeko to score Wolfsburg's second shortly before half-time.

Schalke had taken the lead in the 9th minute through Heiko Westermann but Grafite levelled from the spot after he was fouled by Mladen Krstajic.

Dzeko put the home side ahead and Grafite was again on target to make it 3-1 before Jermaine Jones pulled one back in the 76th.

Grafite struck his third and Wolfsburg's fourth in the 84th to restore the two-goal cushion before Kevin Kuranyi netted a stoppage-time consolation for the visitors.

It was the 10th straight home win for Felix Magath's side and takes them to 45 points, one behind Hertha and three ahead of Hoffenheim, Bayern Munich and SV Hamburg.

Struggling Schalke, playing their first game since the dismissal of general manager Andreas Mueller, remain eighth on 37 points.

Hertha come up against visiting Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, Bayern Munich are at Bochum, Hoffenheim travel to Eintracht Frankfurt, while SV Hamburg host Energie Cottbus on Sunday. (dpa)