Bayer Leverkusen 1-4 Werder Bremen

Claudio Pizarro rolled back the years to hit a hat-trick for Werder Bremen as they relieved themselves of some relegation worries with a 4-1 win at an out-of-sorts Bayer Leverkusen.

Fin Bartels was also on target for the northern Germany side, who provided Leverkusen's consolation themselves through a Papy Djilobodji own goal.

The result lifts Viktor Skripnik's men out of the bottom three and dents Leverkusen's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season.

An early goal was just what Bremen needed, and that is what they got in the fifth minute when Djilobodji knocked a Zlatko Junuzovic free-kick down for Bartels to volley in from 15 yards, with Bernd Leno unable to keep the ball out.

Bremen took confidence from the early goal and a succession of counter-attacks could have led to a second, had the final ball been more accurate.

Leverkusen were also getting that final ball wrong and it was not long before the home fans started to express their frustration with boos echoing around the BayArena.

They got even louder 10 minutes into the second half when Bremen doubled their lead.

Pizarro pounced on a mistake by Roberto Hilbert to break through on goal, and he showed why he is the Bundesliga's all-time leading foreign goalscorer as he coolly lifted his shot over the onrushing Leno.

A foul by Wendell on Junuzovic gave Bremen the chance to add a third, and it was an invitation Pizarro was not going to pass up on as he scored his 10th goal in his last 10 games from the penalty spot.

Djilobodji helped Leverkusen get a foothold in the game when he headed Admir Mehmedi's cross into his own goal rather than back to his goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald.

The hosts accepted their gift but did not make the most of the lifeline it provided, with Pizarro heading in a Junuzovic cross in the 83rd minute to complete his hat-trick and secure a victory which will give Bremen hope.

Leverkusen slip out of the top six and now have a challenge on their hands qualifying for the Europa League with the teams around them picking up points.

ends