SV Hamburg and champions Bayern Munich played to a 0-0 draw on Friday night which allowed neither side to close a large gap on the Bundesliga leaders, dpa reported.
Hamburg's Jonathan Pitroipa hit the right post alone in front of goalkeeper Joerg Butt with nine minutes left after Marcell Jansen had aimed wide and Piotr Trochowski was denied by Butt earlier on.
On the other end, Thomas Mueller's shot was saved by Frank Rost and Toni Kroos aimed high over the bar.
Hamburg lie fourth with 15 points, six points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund and Mainz 05. Bayern are even worse off in what has so far been an indifferent season for them, ninth on 12 points and in danger of falling 12 points behind the top on the weekend.
Dortmund host TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday and the same day Mainz are at third-placed Bayer Leverkusen.