Hapoel Tel Aviv recorded their first ever point in the Champions League - but Bloomfield was rarely lit up on a lacklustre European night.

The hosts had the better of the first half, before Schalke gained the

initiative to little effect after half-time.

Hapoel substitute Yossi Shivhon injected some much-needed life into a hitherto

drab encounter and forced the best save of the night from Manuel Neuer, but

neither team could find a way through.

Hapoel's Eran Zahani was booked for fouling Peer Kluge in an otherwise quiet

opening to the game.

Kluge saw a shot blocked by Walid Badir as Schalke broke following a Hapoel

corner before Toto Tamuz drew the first save of the night from Neuer, with 18

minutes having elapsed before the Schalke keeper parried away his 25-yard

drive.

The hosts were looking the brighter, though, and striker Ben Sahar warmed

Neuer's palms with a left-footed drive from the left of the penalty area.

Salim Toama was next to threaten but curled his free-kick over after Ivan

Rakitic was booked for handball.

Hapoel keeper Vincent Enyeama was finally called into action, parrying after

Sergio Escudero met Jefferson Farfan's cross, but Zahavi then drew another sharp

save from Neuer.

Enyeama denied Escudero once more after Raul rolled a free-kick into his fellow

Spaniard's path, but the visitors had Jose Manuel Jurado and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

booked either side of that incident.

Badir followed after a foul on Jurado, with Raul's header from Rakitic's

free-kick saved unconvincingly by Enyeama.

The Nigeria international then tipped over Jurado's drive to end a scoreless

half.

Christoph Moritz replaced Kluge at the break before Benedikt Howedes became the

third Schalke player to handle and earn a booking.

Farfan flashed a shot wide and his efforts were soon mirrored by Rakitic, while

Ha'adumim - the Reds - turned to midfielder Shivhon for an overdue spark,

withdrawing Toama.

And the new man made an immediate impact, meeting Shay Abutbul's corner with a

header at the near post and forcing a superb save from Germany international

Neuer.

Shivhon headed wide shortly afterwards before going close once more from 20

yards, and Schalke then introduced a lively substitute of their own.

Ciprian Deac replaced Farfan and quickly saw a shot blocked by Dani Bondarv

before delivering a corner which was not properly cleared, Christoph Metzelder

eventually blazing over.

Another replacement, Goncalves Edu, headed wide as the match meandered to a

goalless conclusion.