Axel Witsel's first-half strike saw Borussia Dortmund restore their six-point advantage at the Bundesliga summit with a 1-0 victory over RB Leipzig.
In their first match after the mid-season break, leaders Dortmund responded to Bayern Munich's 3-1 win over Hoffenheim on Friday with a battling win over fourth-placed Leipzig.
Belgium international Witsel drilled a shot in off the underside of the crossbar in the 19th minute, and that proved enough for Lucien Favre's side to triumph in the injury-enforced absence of Marco Reus.
Timo Werner and Marcel Sabitzer were unable to pounce on opportunities to equalise and Dortmund - who introduced Christian Pulisic in the 76th minute for his first appearance since signing for Chelsea - could pull nine points clear with their next match against Hannover coming 24 hours before Bayern face Stuttgart.