Werder Bremen showed they are serious contenders for the Bundesliga crown by comfortably beating title hopefuls Hoffenheim.
After Hoffenheim missed an early penalty, Claudio Pizarro and Per Mertesacker scored to give Werder a 2-0 lead after just 22 minutes - and that was all the hosts would need.
Thomas Schaaf's Bremen extended their undefeated streak to 13 games domestically and internationally while improving to 18 points for fourth place.
Bremen keeper Ti! m Wiese also kept his sheet clean for the fifth straight game, pushing his scoreless streak to 619 minutes.
Hoffenheim fell to sixth place with 14 points after losing their second straight game following four consecutive victories.
Hoffenheim coach Ralf Rangnick had to make a substitution after just 11 minutes, bringing in Sejad Salihovic for the injured Andreas Beck.
And the visitors had a great chance to jump ahead three minutes later with a penalty as Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese took downed Maicosuel.
Carlos Eduardo stepped up to the spot but Wiese stopped his shot to the right and Torsten Frings saved Eduardo's rebound shot at the line.
Werder took advantage of Hoffenheim's missed opportunity by grabbing the lead in the 18th minute from a corner.
Pizarro's header from the right side was too high at the far left post for Eduardo, who headed only into the upper netting.
Bremen doubled the advantage just four minutes later -! again on a dead ball. Mesut Ozil free-kick from the right sid! e went i nto the box where Mertesacker poked home a loose ball from five yards.
Werder nearly made it 3-0 in the 28th but Hoffenheim keeper Timo Hildebrand was able to stop Ozil's short after a fine pass from the right side by Marko Marin.
Wiese made two strong saves in the first half against Maicosuel in the 30th minute and Christian Eichner in the 42nd.
Hoffenheim refused to give up after the break and had some fine opportunities including Salihovic's superb free-kick into the upper netting with 18 minutes left.
Bremen however remained dominant but could not make it 3-0 despite Ozil's fine chance with 15 minutes to play.
