The Royal Blues followed up their lacklustre quarter-final win over Karlsruhe with an impressive show against the Bavarians, who were unable to build on a lively start which saw them go ahead through Robert Vittek in the 20th minute.

Levan Kobiaschvili brought Schalke level after 38 minutes before Fabian Ernst and Peter Lovenkrands scrambled two more goals to give the visitors a 3-1 half-time lead.

The game was over when Heiko Westermann netted his first goal for Schalke in the 58th minute, and Vittek's second in the 73rd minute was of little consolation.

Nurnberg came into the game in high spirits after completing their best season in decades, and strengthening their squad with Zvjezdan Misimovic and Angelos Charisteas this summer.

Misimovic created the opening goal for Vittek, and it looked like Nurnberg were about to continue their impressive form of last term.

However, uncustomary defensive errors allowed Schalke, who were growing in confidence by the minute, to get back into the match.

Kobiaschvili beat Daniel Klewer from just inside the area to bring them level and a storm was brewing as they raised their game.

Ernst and Kevin Kuranyi went close to a second before Ernst took a more difficult effort and Lovenkrands converted a simple tap-in to put Mirko Slomka's side in the driving seat at half-time.

Nurnberg coach Hans Meyer shuffled his pack, but the defence remained disorganised and Westermann benefited to head in unchallenged from Iva Rakitic's corner.

While the defence was at odds, Vittek proved Nurnberg's strength in attack, but the damage had already been done and was irreparable by the time he fired in from the edge of the area.

If Bayern had fired a warning to the rest of the Bundesliga with their 4-1 win over Werder Bremen at the weekend, Schalke did likewise on Tuesday night.

The sides could now meet in the final in Leipzig on Saturday - if Bayern can overcome the threat of Bundesliga champions Stuttgart on Wednesday.