Bayern Munich failed to regain top spot in the Bundesliga and only Ivica Olic spared them from sliding to defeat at Hamburg in a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Borussia Dortmund had moved three points clear at the top thanks to a 2-0 win over Nurnberg at the Frankenstadion on Friday night.
Sebastian Kehl and Lucas Barrios scored the goals for the champions.
When Bayern were given the chance to reply, Jacopo Sala's first Bundesliga goal put Hamburg in front in the 23rd minute, but their former striker Olic levelled with less than 20 minutes remaining.
Bayern now trail the new league leaders by two points while Hamburg are 11th.
Borussia Monchengladbach's surge up the table was slowed by Wolfsburg, who became the first side in 2012 to take a point off Lucien Favre's side with a 0-0 draw at the VW-Arena.
Both sides had goals disallowed for offside while Marco Reus missed a glorious opportunity to give Gladbach their fourth straight win in the second half.
But a draw was a fair result as the visitors at least moved level on points with Bayern Munich while Wolfsburg remain in mid-table.
Stuttgart picked up their first point of 2012 to reduce the pressure on coach Bruno Labbadia and increase it on Leverkusen boss Robin Dutt following a 2-2 draw at the BayArena.
Stefan Kiessling put Leverkusen ahead in the 11th minute, but Julian Schieber levelled 12 minutes later.
Leverkusen captain Simon Rolfes restored the hosts' lead just after the break from the penalty spot, but after they lost Michal Kadlec to a red card in the 63rd minute, they also lost their lead again in the 89th minute as Martin Harnik grabbed a point for Stuttgart.
The visitors also ended the game with 10 men with Cristian Molinaro dismissed in stoppage time.
Schalke were held 1-1 at home by Mainz as a former Borussia Dortmund striker did his old club a favour.
Mohamed Zidan moved from Schalke's local rivals to Mainz on transfer deadline day and he put the visitors in front in the 15th minute, making a dream debut for Thomas Tuchel's side.
But Chinedu Obasi's first goal for the Royal Blues earned them a share of the spoils, taking them up to second ahead of Bayern Munich, but leaving them two points behind Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga table.
Hoffenheim's disappointing start to 2012 continued as they were held to a 2-2 home draw by relegation-threatened Augsburg, who moved off the foot of the table thanks to the point at the Rhein-Neckar Arena.
Sascha Molders put the away side in front after half an hour, but Peniel Mlapa levelled before the break.
A Sejad Salihovic penalty then put Holger Stanislawski's side ahead early in the second half, but Augsburg hit back with Sebastian Langkamp levelling in the 72nd minute.
Hannover inflicted a third straight defeat on new Hertha Berlin coach Michael Skibbe as Mohammed Abdellaoue's goal earned them victory at the Olympiastadion.
Hertha dominated for long stages but could not find a way through as their miserable start to 2012 continued in front of their own fans.
And Abdellaoue punished them with the winner goal in the 68th minute to lift Mirko Slomka's side closer to the top six with their second consecutive 1-0 win.
To make matters worse for the home side, they had Sebastian Neumann sent off 15 minutes from time.
On Sunday, last-placed Freiburg twice came from behind to claim a point in a 2-2 home draw with European contenders Werder Bremen.
Claudio Pizarro gave Bremen the lead in each half but Freiburg found a way back on each occasion, first through Cedrick Makiadi and then Jonathan Schmid in the 70th minute.
Despite the point Freiburg remain at the bottom of the table. Bremen collected their third straight draw since the winter break to move up to fifth.
Substitute Odise Roshi scored shortly after coming on to give Cologne a hard-earned 1-0 away victory over 10-man Kaiserslautern.
Roshi struck the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute, 32 minutes after the home side had seen midfielder Ariel Borysiuk sent off on his debut.
Cologne jumped to 24 points as they ended a run of 25 Bundesliga matches against Kaiserslautern without a win. Defeat for the home side ended a streak of five consecutive draws as they remained on 18 points.
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