Edin Dzeko's brace secured three points for Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg at the expense of Schalke and their title-winning coach from last season, Felix Magath.

Magath made up his mind to leave the Wolves midway through last term, before mounting a stunning and successful title challenge, and insisted before kick-off that he had no regrets over his move to Gelsenkirchen.

Benedikt Howedes' header 10 minutes from time, cancelling out Dzeko's opener, looked to have earned Magath's new troops a share of the spoils but the hosts were back on level terms for less than a minute before Dzeko struck the winner to move his side up to fifth.

Wolfsburg had the better of the opening exchanges in front of 61,000 fans at the Arena AufSchalke, with captain Josue forcing a fingertip save from Manuel Neuer from distance early on.

Josue was soon busy at the other end, defending well to prevent a diving Jefferson Farfan from making contact with Marcelo Bordon's header across goal.

Wolfsburg were without regular goalkeeper Diego Benaglio through suspension but the Royal Blues did not pose too much of a threat to his replacement Andre Lenz in the first half.

Neuer remained the busier of the two goalkeepers, getting down well to save a long-range blast from Christian Gentner.

The best chance of the first period arrived for the visitors eight minutes before the break, with Grafite completely missing his kick after Sascha Riether had fed him from the right.

The home fans and players thought they should have had a penalty in the 42nd minute when Rafinha went down under the challenge of Josue but the referee was unmoved.

The deadlock should have been broken shortly after the break by Schalke midfielder Levan Kenia, but the Georgian teenager fired over from the penalty spot following good work down the right by Farfan.

The opening goal did arrive eight minutes later, but it was the visiting fans who were celebrating.

Bosnia-Herzegovina frontman Dzeko found space at the far post to nod Riether's floated cross into the top-left corner following a quick corner on the right.

The Wolves could have doubled their advantage just after the hour when Marcel Schafer's low cross eluded Neuer but Bordon was on hand to brilliantly clear for a corner from virtually on the goal-line.

Parity was restored in the 80th minute when Howedes found space to head home at near post from Kenia's corner, but the visitors showed just why they are champions by getting their noses back in front within 60 seconds.

Substitute Makoto Hasebe broke free down the right and cut the ball back for Dzeko to fire home from eight yards.

Schalke substitute Kevin Kuranyi came close to equalising in the closing stages but his header was kept out by the knee of Lenz, with the referee ruling it had not crossed the line.