Leaders Schalke 04 suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at home to suddenly resurgent Hamburg on Friday, and Saturday's results have blown the title race wide open.

Werder, who had been in a slump recently, rebounded with a 3-0 thrashing of lowly VfL Bochum at home while Bayern won a thrilling match at Hertha Berlin 3-2.

Stuttgart, who were second at the start of the day's play but have now dropped below Bremen, lost 3-1 at Bayer Leverkusen.

It leaves Schalke still on top with 49 points but Werder have closed the deficit to three with Stuttgart one point further back and Bayern now just six points off the summit.

Just two weeks ago Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld had all but given up on the title after his side claimed just four points from five matches. He admitted his aim was simply to finish third and qualify for next season's Champions League.

Goal rush sees Bayern back in the chase

But goals from Hassan Salihamidzic, Lukas Podolski and Roy Makaay ensured Bayern returned from the capital with three-points and renewed hope of retaining their title.

It was brace of goals just 60-seconds apart that set Bayern on the way to victory, with first Salihamidzic and then Podolski finding the net.

Christian Jiminez reduced the arrears for Hertha early in the second period but Makaay restored the two-goal advantage with 22 minutes to play.

Defender Dick van Burik ensured a nail-biting finale by cutting the deficit with just eight minutes left to play but Bayern gamely held on.

A hat-trick from Aaron Hunt gave Werder a comfortable win over second bottom Bochum as the hosts made light of their ravaged forward line to record their first league win in five attempts.

Leverkusen deal blow to Stuttgart hopes

Stuttgart were well beaten by Leverkusen, falling 3-0 behind before Brazilian Cacau scored a late consolation.

It was another game where two quick goals settled the affair as Andriy Voronin on 20 minutes and Paul Freier two minutes later gave Leverkusen a dream start before Juan added a finishing touch just after the hour mark for a 3-0 lead.

On Friday Hamburg won their fourth match in a row under new coach Huub Stevens to stun the leaders on their own patch.

Hamburg out of basement after Schalke shock

Hamburg, who finished third last season, had won only one league match all season and were rock bottom when Stevens took over but the Dutchman has re-instilled belief into the north coast side.

Thanks to two late goals courtesy of Dutch playmaker Rafael van der Vaart and Croatian striker Ivica Olic, Hamburg are now 12th in the 18-team league but still only two points above the relegation zone.

Along with Hamburg, TSV Alemannia Aachen and 1. FSV Mainz 05 are also struggling to survive. Aachen was behind 0-1 in the first half of Sunday's match against Mainz, but came back with two goals at the start of the second half. With 27 points, TSV Alemannia Aachen's 2-1 victory ranks the team 13th, in between Hamburg and Mainz.

Also on Sunday, Energie Cottbus defeated Borussia Dortmund 3-1 at home. The upset was a reality check for Dortmund, who by now have abandoned any hopes of competing in the European leagues. Instead, the team will focus on reversing its downward spiral: Borussia Dortmund has lost five out of the last six games.