Berlin, Dec 2 (IANS) Bundesliga club FC Schalke secured their berth in the intermediate round of the UEFA Europa League ahead of schedule with a 2-1 win over Romanian side Steaua Bucharest. Athletic Club Bilbao defeated Slovan Bratislava with identical scoreline.

Schalke tried to compensate their bitter defeat against rivals Dortmund in the last Bundesliga match with a frenetic start against Bucharest in front of 53,993 spectators at Schalke Arena Thursday.

Defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos headed home a corner from the left wing from inside penalty area in the 25th minute to give the German side the lead.

Against the run of play, Bucharest pulled one back, courtesy Raul Rusescu who slotted home to score in the 33rd minute.

The second half was quite contrary to the first. Steaua Bucharest put up a strong defence performance. In the 57th minute, veteran Spaniard Raul found the gap when he poked home a follow-up shot from close range to seal the Germans.

Schalke dominates Group J with 11 points after five matches followed by Macabi Haifa with six points, Xinhua reported.

Spanish side Athletic Club Bilbao too assured their qualification from the group stage of the Europa League as winners of Group F following a 2-1 home win against Slovan Bratislava.

The win means that the Basque side, who had already secured their place in the last 32 of the competition, will not have to meet any of the side's who finish third in their Champions League groups which should give them an easier route to progress further.