Karlsruhe miss chance to make ground on leaders Bayern Munich

Newly-promoted Karlsruhe have been the surprise package of the season to date and went into the encounter with Bielefeld sitting in fourth spot but knowing victory would see them leapfrog Werder Bremen and SV Hamburg into second.

 Alexander Iashvili had the best opportunity for Karslruhe but the Georgian international blasted over with the goal gaping.

 The result means Edmund Becker's side stay fourth on 19 points, one behind Bremen and Hamburg and seven behind Bayern, who needed a late goal from substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger Saturday to overcome VfL Bochum.

 Hamburg kept pace by trouncing defending champions VfB Stuttgart 4-1 thanks to an Ivica Olic hat-trick while Bremen beat Hertha Berlin 3-2.

 In the second Sunday match, Marcelinho opened the scoring for Wolfsburg with a superb solo effort on 21 minutes but Hanover equalized seven minutes later through Sergio Pinto.

 Ashkan Dejagah restored Wolfsburg's lead virtually from the restart but within six minutes Hanover were level again as Michael Tarnat headed home to make it 2-2.

 The draw leaves Wolfsburg in ninth while Hanover stay sixth on 17 points, level with fifth-placed Schalke, who played out a 1-1 draw with Hansa Rostock Saturday.

 In other Saturday action, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund drew 2-2 while Nuremberg thumped Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 to move out of the relegation zone.

   MSV Duisburg beat bottom club Energie Cottbus in the Friday night game.