Aaron Hunt put Bremen ahead in the 10th minute, but Bayern responded with goals from Thomas Muller and Ivica Olic to deservedly lead at the break.

The Bavarians missed chance after chance and were punished when Hugo Almeida levelled in the 75th minute, but Arjen Robben sealed three points for the visitors three minutes later.

Bayern leapfrogged Schalke, who passed up the chance to move top as they conceded two goals in the final eight minutes, including a stoppage-time equaliser, to draw 2-2 at local rivals Bochum.

Vicente Sanchez gave Schalke the lead after just five minutes and Kevin Kuranyi made it 2-0 in the 42nd minute.

But Vahid Hashemian pulled a goal back for Bochum in the 82nd minute - the first goal Felix Magath's side had leaked in five games - and Stanislav Sestak shocked the visitors with the leveller two minutes into added time.

Schalke moved level on points with Bayer Leverkusen, who visit Hoffenheim tomorrow, and one behind Bayern.

At the other end of the table Hertha Berlin goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny saved a penalty late in the first half as the basement boys fought hard for a goalless draw against Borussia Monchengladbach.

Drobny dived to parry Juan Arango's low spot-kick and then denied the Venezuelan again from the rebound three yards out after Arne Friedrich had fouled Roberto Colautti.

Hertha have still not won at home in eight games but improved to 10 points - eight adrift of safety - while Monchengladbach are in 12th place.

Nurnberg cut the gap to safety to five points by halting a run of five successive Bundesliga defeats with a point at home to European hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt.

Christian Eigler fired the home side in front midway through the first half, only for Benjamin Kohler to bring Eintracht back on level terms before the interval.

Hannover remained a point behind 15th-placed Freiburg after Mirko Slomka's coaching debut ended with a 1-0 defeat at Mainz.

Andre Schuerrle scored the only goal of the contest after just four minutes as Thomas Tuchel's side maintained their unbeaten home record.

In the late kick-off, Borussia Dortmund beat Hamburg 1-0 to climb above their opponents into fourth place. Nelson Valdez scored the only goal of the match in the 36th minute.