BERLIN (AFP) - Bayern Munich underlined their determination to wrestle the German crown back from Werder Bremen with a 2-1 victory over the German champions at the Weserstadion.
Bayern had not won in Bremen since December 1999 but broke that hoodoo with German internationals Michael Ballack and Bastian Schweinsteiger on target.
It was sweet revenge for Bayern who surrendered their German title to Bremen with a 3-1 loss at the Olympic Stadium last season.
The German titans are starting to click into gear, building on their 4-0 Champions League demolition of Ajax in midweek, and leapfrogged Bremen into third with the three points.
Surprise package VfL Wolfsburg still set the pace at the top following a 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.
Bayern coach Felix Magath drafted German international Sebastian Deisler back into the starting eleven after 'resting' him for the past few matches and Deisler did not take long to have an impact.
He whipped over a brilliant 20th minute corner from the right and Ballack rose highest to head home his fourth goal of the season.
Croatian international Ivan Klasnic should have equalised for Bremen on the half hour mark but somehow headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
Greece's Euro 2004 hero Angelos Charisteas, who scored the winner against Valencia in midweek, replaced Klasnic at the interval as coach Thomas Schaaf revamped his front line.
Hosts Bremen asserted more pressure after the pause but Ghana defender Sammy Kuffour, back in favour after it looked like he would leave Munich, had an inspired game in the backline.
Substitute Schweinsteiger then staked a claim for a place in the first team curling home a 75th minute shot that caught goalkeeper Andreas Reinke off guard.
The second goal proved important as Miroslav Klose reduced the deficit with a header in the 81st minute, his fourth goal in his last two Bundesliga outings, but Bayern held on.
Elsewhere Bayer Leverkusen ended a five match winless streak with a 3-0 triumph over SV Hamburg at the BayArena.
Bayer manager Klaus Augenthaler claimed Polish international Jacek Krzynowek should have a licence for his left foot and it was clear what the coach meant.
In the 10th minute Krzynowek unleashed a 25 yard shot from his cannon left foot and the ball crashed into the roof of the net.
Brazilian international Juan (73) and Bulgarian international Dimitar Berbatov (86) struck late on for Leverkusen spoiling the return of Hamburg chief Klaus Toppmoller.
Toppmoller guided Bayer to the Champions League final in 2002.
Borussia Dortmund fans are still pining for their first home win in the Bundesliga following a 2-2 draw with FC Nuremberg.
A hectic first period saw three goals scored in five minutes at the Westfalen Stadium.
Marek Mintal (23) and Robert Vittek (25) shocked the 75,000 fans with quick fire goals for FC Nuremberg, but Czech international Jan Koller salvaged a point with his brace (28, 45) completing an action-packed first half.