Hamburg - Brazilian striker Maicosuel kept Hoffenheim in touch with the Bundesliga leaders by scoring the only goal at Freiburg on Sunday. The 23-year-old summer signing curled a shot into the top left-hand corner from the edge of the area to give the visitors a 39th-minute winner.
It moves Hoffenheim to fifth on 20 points, three points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen who drew 2-2 at Schalke 04 on Saturday. Freiburg slip to 13th after their fourth straight defeat.
In the day's other game, Eintracht Frankfurt spoiled Heiko Herrlich's debut of coach at struggling Bochum with a 2-1 win.
Freiburg meanwhile mourned the death Sunday of the club's long- serving president Achim Stocker, 74, following a heart attack on Wednesday.
"We learned the news shortly before the end of the game. We are shocked and filled with deep sadness," club spokesman Rudi Raschke said.
Stocker, in charge since 1972, was the longest-serving club chief in German football. Under his charge and following the appointment of Volker Finke as coach in 1991, Freiburg won promotion to the top flight for the first time in 1993 and qualified for the UEFA Cup in 1996 and 2002.
Hoffenheim were the only team from the top third of the table to win over the weekend.
Werder Bremen, who Saturday drew 2-2 at Nuremberg, and SV Hamburg, who lost 3-2 at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach, are level on 22 points, with Schalke on 21.
Bayern Munich, who drew 0-0 at VfB Stuttgart, are a point behind Hoffenheim on 19.
Hoffenheim were the better side for long spells at Freiburg but failed to build on Maicosuel's goal.
Vedad Ibisevic and Andreas Ibertsberger wasted opportunities to increase the lead, and Freiburg almost punished the visitors when Stefan Reisinger flashed a shot across goal.
Hoffenheim then should have put the result beyond all doubt in the closing minutes but Sejad Salihovic failed to find Carlos Eduardo in front of goal with three against one on a counter-attack.
In Frankfurt, defender Maik Franz headed a 53rd-minute winner for for the home side after scoring an own goal mid-way through the first half which had cancelled out a 14th-minute opener from Caio Cesar from a free-kick.
Bochum played the last 10 minutes with 10 men after Japan's Shinji Ono was dismissed for two yellow cards within a minute.
The victory leaves Frankfurt in mid-table, while Bochum remain second last after four consecutive defeats, four points clear of Hertha Berlin.
