Werder Bremen kept themselves in the race for the Bundesliga title with a resounding win at Hertha Berlin on Sunday.
After Schalke and Stuttgart won their games on Saturday, the ball was in Bremen's and they did not let the pressure affect them thanks to a hat trick by Markus Rosenberg.
Rosenberg scored the first after 19 minutes and a red card for Berlin defender Josip Simunic 10 minutes before the half made life easier for Thomas Schaaf's men.
Rosenberg made it 2-0 five minutes into the second half and completed his trifecta in the 81st minute.
Diego also scored for the winners while Gilberto scored Hertha's lone goal.
The game was marred by an ugly incident in the 35th minute when Simunic went in dangerously high on Daniel Jensen with his foot raised, and he caught the Danish midfielder on the head.
Referee Herbert Fandel did not hesitate in showing the Croatia international the red card, while Jensen was carried from the field with a nasty-looking head injury
The win keeps Bremen just two points behind league leaders Schalke, and one back of Stuttgart for second place.
In Sunday's other match, Bayer Leverkusen fell behind Nurnberg in their quest to qualify for the UEFA Cup on Sunday, losing 2-1 at home to Arminia Bielefeld.
Artur Wichniarek put the visitors ahead in the 19th minute and Leverkusen answered 11 minutes later on a goal by Sergej Barbarez.
Jonas Kamper struck the winner for Bielefeld, a 30-yard screamer, with seven minutes left.
Leverkusen is sliding down the standings and has now lost four of its last five games, dropping behind Nurnberg on goal difference as they battle for the final UEFA Cup spot.
Bielefeld is heading in the opposite direction having won three straight. Sunday's victory should stave off any lingering relegation worries as Bielefeld now has a six-point advantage over Alemannia Aachen.
After Schalke and Stuttgart won their games on Saturday, the ball was in Bremen's and they did not let the pressure affect them thanks to a hat trick by Markus Rosenberg.
Rosenberg scored the first after 19 minutes and a red card for Berlin defender Josip Simunic 10 minutes before the half made life easier for Thomas Schaaf's men.
Rosenberg made it 2-0 five minutes into the second half and completed his trifecta in the 81st minute.
Diego also scored for the winners while Gilberto scored Hertha's lone goal.
The game was marred by an ugly incident in the 35th minute when Simunic went in dangerously high on Daniel Jensen with his foot raised, and he caught the Danish midfielder on the head.
Referee Herbert Fandel did not hesitate in showing the Croatia international the red card, while Jensen was carried from the field with a nasty-looking head injury
The win keeps Bremen just two points behind league leaders Schalke, and one back of Stuttgart for second place.
In Sunday's other match, Bayer Leverkusen fell behind Nurnberg in their quest to qualify for the UEFA Cup on Sunday, losing 2-1 at home to Arminia Bielefeld.
Artur Wichniarek put the visitors ahead in the 19th minute and Leverkusen answered 11 minutes later on a goal by Sergej Barbarez.
Jonas Kamper struck the winner for Bielefeld, a 30-yard screamer, with seven minutes left.
Leverkusen is sliding down the standings and has now lost four of its last five games, dropping behind Nurnberg on goal difference as they battle for the final UEFA Cup spot.
Bielefeld is heading in the opposite direction having won three straight. Sunday's victory should stave off any lingering relegation worries as Bielefeld now has a six-point advantage over Alemannia Aachen.




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