Werder Bremen confirmed their title credentials with victory over Nurnberg.
Werder Bremen confirmed their title credentials with victory over Nurnberg, while second-placed Stuttgart kept up the pressure with three points against struggling Hamburg.
Germany international Torsten Frings got the ball rolling for top-of-the-table Werder at the Franken Stadion with a 32nd minute shot.
The win was confirmed by Diego 12 minutes from time, as the visitors picked up their seventh victory in 11 matches.
Nurnberg, by contrast, after a succession of draws, have failed to win any of their last nine fixtures.
Stuttgart appeared set for a frustrating evening at the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, until Hamburg's resistance was broken by Mario Gomez ten minutes from time.
Hamburg, in desperate need of a result to alleviate the pressure on manager Thomas Doll, went in search of an equaliser, but came unstuck again five minutes later, with former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger rounding off the win for his team.
A late strike from Christopher Lamprecht saw Wolfsburg triumph 2-1 at Mainz to lift his team into the division's top six.
Wolfsburg were ahead inside four minutes at second-from-bottom Mainz, courtesy of a penalty from Mike Hanke.
That lead lasted just two minutes, however, as Imre Szabics levelled for the hosts.
But the night belonged to the visitors, with Lamprecht's strike seven minutes from time all-important.
Mid-table Borussia Dortmund and Alemannia Aachen, meanwhile, played out an uninspiring goalless draw at Signal Iduna Park.
Click below for an individual match summary:
Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Alemannia Aachen
Nurnberg 0-2 Werder Bremen
FSV Mainz 1-2 Wolfsburg
Stuttgart 2-0 Hamburg
