Hamburg: Defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich slipped eight points behind Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 as the two log leaders won their midweek games. 

While Bayern managed no better than a goalless draw in Munich Tuesday against struggling VfL Bochum - a result that saw them fire coach Felix Magath on Wednesday - both Bremen and Schalke made the best of their chance Wednesday to put some distance between themselves and Bayern.

Schalke came from behind at home to beat Alemannia Aachen 2-1, while Bremen won 2-0 against Bayer Leverkusen.

Aachen's Zambian defender Moses Sichone was the match-winner for Schalke as he gave away a penalty in the first half and then scored an own goal in the second.

Vedad Ibisevic gave Aachen the lead in the 17th minute, but Rafinha equalised from the spot just six minutes later, before Sichone scored an own goal in the 74th minute when he knocked a cross from Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi in to his own net.

Schalke's coach Mirko Slomka said that he was not satisfied with his side's performance.

"I will need to speak to the players about that. It was not a good game, but we got the three points.

"It was important to win because we did not want to go to Bremen with a three point deficit," he said, referring to Sunday's league match between the two teams.

In Leverkusen, Germany striker Miroslav Klose gave the visitors an ideal start with a 15th minute opener. They then dominated the play and took complete control in the 72nd minute when Gonzalo Castro was sent off for a second bookable offence two minutes after having been given the yellow card.

Bremen substitute Hugo Almeida put the match beyond the hosts three minutes later with a powerful shot from inside the area.

Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf said he was pleased with the result. "The game had two different halves. We were better in the first half, but then Leverkusen came back in the second half. We should have made sure of victory earlier, but I am happy that we won.

He said he was now looking forward to taking on Schalke on the weekend. "We now have a bit of time to prepare for Sunday's match."

The victories take Bremen and Schalke to 42 points - seven more than third-placed VfB Stuttgart, while Bayern are a point behind. Bremen top the table on goal difference.

At the wrong end of the table bottom club Mainz 05 scored their second victory in as many games with a 1-0 win against Borussia Dortmund to move above SV Hamburg and Borussia Moenchgladbach.

Leon Andreasen scored the only goal of the game with a penalty on the hour in Mainz.

In Hamburg, the home side once again failed to hold onto a lead as they let Juan Pablo Sorin's fourth minute penalty lead slip away against Energie Cottbus. Marian Radu equalized just five minutes later. Hamburg have now won just once in 19 league matches.

The biggest victory of the night belonged to Hanover 96, who scored three times in the first half to set up a 5-0 victory against Hertha Berlin.

Brazilian-born Italian Vinicius scored the two opening goals before Frank Fahrenhorst added a third in the last minute of the first half to give the home side a convincing lead into the change-rooms.

Jan Rosenthal and Altin Lala scored two more in the second half to turn a terrible night for Berlin into a nightmare.