This was the perfect pick-me-up for Thomas Schaaf's side after the disappointment of getting dumped out of the Champions League by Barcelona in midweek.

If the Bremen players were suffering any hangover from that Barca defeat it certainly didn't show with Brazilian defender Naldo putting them into the lead after three minutes play.

Marco Russ had Frankfurt back on level terms a minute later but that only served to invigorate Bremen.

Danish midfielder Daniel Jensen put the visitor's back in front in the 11th minute with Naldo increasing their advantage on the half hour.

And the 24-year-old defender whom Schaaf reckons is the most talented in Brazil popped up with a third just after the break with Jurica Vranjes and Diego completing the rout in the dying minutes.

Sotorios Kyrgiakos bagged a late consolation for the hosts.

This six-star display pushed Bremen on to 33 points, two clear of VfB Stuttgart, the surprise package of the season who ran out 1-0 winners over VfL Bochum.

"I think we are the best team in Germany at the moment," Werder manager Klaus Allofs said.

"We want to stay in front right to the end of the season," he added.

Champions Bayern Munich, now Germany's only representative in the Champions League, struggled to see off Energie Cottbus 2-1 to put them level in third with Schalke 04 but with an inferior goal difference.

After last week's draw with Monchengladbach Bayern took all three points with Bastian Schweinsteiger opening the scoring with a 42nd minute free-kick.

His hastily taken set-piece caught out Energie's excellent Bosnian keeper Tomislav Piplica.

Steffan Baumgart levelled for Cottbus with Dutch defender Daniel van Buyten saving Bayern's blushes with the 54th minute decider.

"Once again we had difficulty up against a well organised and very physical opposition," Bayern coach Felix Magath said.

Schalke 04 can draw level with Bremen at the summit if they get a result against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.

Hamburg meanwhile were unable to follow up their Champions league win over CSKA Moscow in midweek, the second from bottom club playing out a goalless draw with Nuremberg.

That performance may hasten the departure of coach Thomas Doll.