SV Werder Bremen 1-0 Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Second-placed Bayer Leverkusen missed the opportunity to take advantage of Bayern Munich's trip to the Club World Cup by losing at Werder Bremen.

Argentine defender Santiago Garcia stabbed in the winner as Leverkusen suffered their second straight loss.

With Bayern facing Raja Casablanca in Morocco, Sami Hyypia's team were aiming to cut their seven-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.

But Bremen claimed their first win in six matches to move up to 11th.

The defeat stopped from Leverkusen from reaching a club-record of 40 points before the German top-flight's five-week winter break.

And it means Bayern, who added the world crown to their Bundesliga and European titles later on Saturday, are top of the table heading into the turn.

"It's a bit annoying that we go into the winter break on the back of two defeats," said Leverkusen coach Sami Hyypia, whose side also lost 1-0 against Eintracht Frankfurt last Sunday.

"We controlled the game, but we didn't score a goal and lacked a bit of belief.

"It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, but all in all we can be happy with the first half of the season."