Leipzig won 2-1 over promoted Heidenheim on Saturday, goals from Lois Openda and Yussuf Poulsen sending the home side past Borussia Dortmund and into fourth on the table.
Leipzig took the lead from the penalty spot, Openda winning and converting for his 10th goal in 13 league matches this season.
Poulsen doubled up for the hosts shortly before half-time taking advantage after wing-back David Raum beat two defenders.
Heidenheim hit back immediately after, Benedikt Gimber tapping in through a crowded penalty area after a corner.
The goal would have raised some bad memories for the home side, who gave away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at European champions Manchester City in midweek.
Marco Rose's side dug deep against the energetic promoted side, chalking up a fifth win of the season at home.
Borussia Moenchengladbach needed a late winner to beat Hoffenheim 2-1 at home, the Foals left-back Luca Netz laying finding Nathan Ngoumou to score the winner with 10 minutes remaining.
Brought down in the box by former Liverpool centre-back Ozan Kabak midway through the second-half, Gladbach's Alassane Plea converted a penalty to give the home side the lead.
The visitors equalised just 90 seconds later however, with one-time Man United striker Wout Weghorst heading in from close range.
Elsewhere, Bochum won just their second match of the season, beating a disappointing Wolfsburg 3-1 at home to open a welcome gap from the relegation placings.
Bochum ran out to a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Patrick Osterhage and Bernardo, but Wolfsburg pulled a goal back later in the first half through Mattias Svanberg.
Christopher Antwi-Adjei scored to put the match to bed with three minutes remaining, continuing Wolfsburg's horrid form away from their Volkswagen Arena home, with just one win from seven games this season.
The other game slated for Saturday afternoon, Bayern Munich hosting Union Berlin, was postponed earlier in the day due to heavy snowfall in the Bavarian capital.
Later on Saturday, Stuttgart can consolidate their place in the top four when they host Werder Bremen.
With Bayern's match with Union likely to take place in the new year, Bayer Leverkusen can go five clear atop the table with a win at home against Dortmund on Sunday.
dwi/dmc
