Bayern Munich edged past Werder Bremen 2-1 on Saturday for a Bundesliga record 13th consecutive win over them to stay three points clear at the top of the table.
Bayern, who face Arsenal in the Champions League knockout stage on Feb. 15, never hit top form but are now on 45 points with promoted RB Leipzig on 42 after they ended Hoffenheim's unbeaten run this season with a 2-1 win.
Dutchman Arjen Robben drilled in after 30 minutes for Bayern following a spectacular run down the wing from Franck Ribery and David Alaba doubled their lead, perfectly curling a free kick over the wall and into the top corner on the stroke of halftime.
Max Kruse cut the deficit seven minutes after the restart, shaking off Alaba to fire in as the hosts looked more aggressive but Werder Bremen failed to find an equaliser and stayed in 15th spot, a point above the relegation playoff spot.
Cologne crushed bottom side Darmstadt 98 6-1 to move up to 29 points in seventh place, with Japan international Yuya Osako scoring twice.
Vfl Wolfsburg slumped to a 2-1 home loss against Augsburg despite leading through Mario Gomez. They dropped to 14th place on 19.
Resurgent Inter win seventh game in a row, Chievo's Inglese sinks Lazio
Inter Milan continued their stunning revival under coach Stefano Pioli as they beat basement club Pescara 3-0 to record their seventh successive Serie A victory which lifted them above Lazio into fourth place .
Danilo D'Ambrosio set them on their way by steering the ball in midway through the first half, while Portugal international Joao Mario doubled their advantage two minutes before halftime by sliding in Ivan Perisic's cutback.
Substitute Eder rounded off the win in the 73rd minute, just moments after coming on by turning in a simple pass from captain Mauro Icardi, who had also played a vital role in creating Joao Mario's goal.
Inter had survived a scare moments before the opening goal when Valerio Verre turned in a shot that goalkeeper Samir Handanovic could only parry but the effort was ruled offside.
Inter are fourth in the standings on 42 points, six off leaders Juventus although the champions have two games in hand. Third-placed Napoli, who host Palermo on Sunday, have 44 points.
Lazio dropped to fifth in the standings after a last-gasp Roberto Inglese goal allowed Chievo Verona to snatch a surprise 1-0 win over Simone Inzaghi's side. The result snapped a four-match losing streak for Chievo.
After surviving a first-half onslaught from the hosts, Inglese scrappily converted Massimo Gobbi's layoff in a rare counter attack which gave Chievo all three points and moved them three places up the table.
Chievo are now 10th with 28 points, 12 adrift of Lazio.
Lazio had gone into the game following a disheartening 2-0 defeat at Juventus last weekend and without suspended top scorer Ciro Immobile. Filip Djordjevic took his place up front.
Lyon's title hopes hit by Lille defeat
Olympique Lyonnais's slim Ligue 1 title hopes suffered a setback when Yassine Benzia netted a double to give visitors Lille a 2-1 win.
Algeria forward Benzia, who turned professional at Lyon before joining Lille in 2015, scored in each half as the northerners pulled away from the relegation zone.
The result left Lyon, who reduced the arrears through Alexandre Lacazette, in fourth place with 37 points from 21 matches, 11 behind leaders Monaco, who visit champions Paris St Germain on Sunday.
Lille have 26 points and now lie five points above the drop zone.
