Werder Bremen the disappointment of their Europa League exit to twice fight back from a goal down win against Bochum.

Claudio Pizarro's 58th-minute strike got the hosts back on level terms after Stanislav Sestak's 14th-minute opener, and Marko Marin equalised a second time two minutes after Zlatko Dedic put the visitors 2-1 up in the 63rd minute.

Bremen finally took the lead for the first time in the 81st minute with a goal by Torsten Frings as the home team extended their unbeaten streak to seven games, jumping to 45 points for fourth place in the Bundesliga in the process.

For Bochum it was a third straight loss following an eight-game unbeaten run. They remained in 14th spot on 27 points - four points above the drop zone.

Bremen made major changes to their line-up from the Europa League match against Valencia and struggled to settle in the early stages, particularly defensively.

Daniel Jensen's poor pass in the 12th minute was intercepted by Dedic, who then tested Tim Wiese, but the Bremen goalkeeper made a superb save.

But another defensive mistake allowed Bochum to grab the lead two minutes later. Roman Prokoph sent Sestak clear between Bremen's two centre-backs and the Slovakian sent his shot past Wiese.

Bochum nearly doubled their lead six minutes after the restart but Christian Fuchs' free-kick from the edge of the area flew just wide.

Bremen increased the pressure and equalised after 58 minutes thanks to a brilliant goal by Pizarro, who latched onto a high ball from Naldo and volleyed past Bochum goalkeeper Philipp Heerwagen.

Bochum re-established their advantage five minutes later when Lewis Holtby fed Dedic on a counter-attack and the Slovenian looped his shot over Wiese.

The action continued to switch from end to end and it was soon 2-2. Marin was sent into area by Philipp Bargfrede and despatched his shot over Heerwagen.

And Bremen went ahead with nine minutes remaining as Frings' 28-yard blast deflected off Bochum's Andreas Johansson and in.

Wiese made two great saves in the 89th minute and Bremen defender Sebastian Boenisch cleared Paul Freier's attempt in stoppage time, but there was no way back for Bochum.