Eren Derdiyok grabbed a late equaliser to earn a point for Bayer Leverkusen after they surrendered an early lead to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.

The first chance of the game went to Bremen in the seventh minute as Marko Arnautovic's cross from the right side went to Marin, who chested the ball down, turned and blasted just wide right from 13 yards.

Patrick Helmes' goal in the 16th minute for Leverkusen saw the home team enter the interval in the driving seat. The hosts grabbed the lead thanks to a fine counter attack. Tranquillo Barnetta sent a through ball down the right side to Helmes who blasted past Bremen keeper Tim Wiese to the far left corner.

However, Hugo Almeida equalized for the visitors early into the second half. Almeida, who came on for Bremen at the break, blasted home a free-kick into the bottom-right corner in the 53rd minute. Marko Marin completed the turnaround for Bremen in the 62nd minute. An Almeida pass went to the right side to Aaron Hunt for a left-foot looping pass to Marin, who volleyed home to make it 2-1.

Leverkusen equalised in the 78th minute through a fine individual goal by Derdiyok, who dribbled through three Bremen defenders and beat Wiese to the far right post. Derdiyok's solo effort saved the day for Leverkusen in an exciting, up-tempo match.

Both teams remained determined for the win but Helmes headed wide right in the 90th minute and Sebastian Prodl shot over the bar from nine yards a minute into stoppage time.

Leverkusen have not lost in five contests and currently sit in fourth place, nine points behind leaders Mainz.