Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen shared the points in a 1-1 draw that prevents both teams pulling closer to the group of leading teams in the Bundesliga.
Claudio Pizarro gave Bremen the lead after 29 minutes before Stefan Reinartz equalised in the 57th minute.
Werder secured their second straight draw and have seven wins, a draw and one loss at home this season for 31 points. Leverkusen moved to 30 points.
Coach Robin Dutt left captain Michael Ballack on the bench for Leverkusen, while Bremen's four-man backline included new acquisition Francois Affolter and 18-year-old debutant Florian Hartharz.
The first chance came in the 20th minute with Bremen keeper Tim Wiese doing a good job fending Reinartz's shot from 13 yards over the crossbar.
Bremen missed an opportunity two minutes later with Pizarro shooting just wide right - but they grabbed the lead after 29 minutes as Mehmet Ekici passed to the left wing for Tom Trybull to cross into the middle, where Pizarro chested the ball down and then blasted it low into the far right corner with his left foot.
The hosts nearly made it 2-0 just before half-time as Markus Rosenberg got behind Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno but defender Daniel Schwab was in the way.
Leverkusen equalised in the 57th minute on a set-piece with Reinartz heading home Michal Kadlec's corner, with Wiese not coming off his line with much conviction.
The visitors had more possession but could not pull ahead as Eren Derdiyok found only the side-netting in the 78th minute.
However, Bremen had the last chance of the game four minutes later, with Rosenberg striking the left post.
