Hoffenheim striker Boubacar Sanogo hit the post three times against his former team as the hosts were held to a scoreless draw by Werder Bremen.
Unlike the 5-4 victory Bremen recorded when the two teams met in the first half of the season, goals were lacking although the match was still very entertaining.
The draw leaves Hoffenheim four points behind leaders Hertha Berlin and among a group of four clubs locked on 42 points, while Bremen remain midtable.
Striker Chinedu Obasi was making his first start of the year for Hoffenheim. Bremen were missing Mesut Oezil, Torsten Frings and Naldo but did have the services of goalkeeper Tim Wiese.
There was a spark of early controversy when Bremen's Alexandros Tziolis appeared to handle the ball following Carlos Eduardo's free-kick, but the referee turned a blind eye to the incident.
The crowd had to wait until the 33rd minute for the first real opening of the game, which came from Werder. Sebastian Boenisch provided the perfect cross for Hugo Almeida but his header came back off the crossbar.
Seven minutes later it was Hoffenheim's turn to hit the woodwork. Obasi curled in a cross from the right to Sanogo at the far post, but the Ivory Coast international was stopped by the upright.
The second half was an end-to-end affair with a number of superb chances. Werder strike Claudio Pizarro was fed a fine cross by Boenisch, but the Peruvian headed over the bar from 10 yards in the 51st minute.
Sanogo was again denied by the left post two minutes later when trying to turn home Andreas Beck's attempt.
And Sanogo grew even more frustrated moments later as he again smashed the left upright after Wiese's parry from Demba Ba's shot had landed at his feet.
Bremen had two more chances to take the points but Pizarro sent Diego's free-kick over the crossbar from nine yards out in the 64th minute.
And with a quarter of an hour left, Diego ran onto Boenisch's cross but fired over the target from close range.
