Gladbach, with Breel Embolo out of the squad following allegations he broke Covid-19 lockdown rules and Marcus Thuram suspended, were rarely dangerous upfront until Swiss international Elvedi’s superb header in the 66th minute from a freekick.

Gladbach survived a nervous finale with Yann Sommer beaten in the 88th minute but Milot Rashica’s shot bounced off the post and into the keeper’s arms.

Werder’s Leonardo Bittencourt then fired narrowly over the bar from 10m out a minute later.

The Foals, who face Manchester City in the Champions League Round of 16 next month, are unbeaten so far this year and on 28 points.

VfL Wolfsburg climbed into fifth with a 2-0 win at Mainz 05 while Union Berlin, in sixth on 28, take on RB Leipzig on Wednesday. Werder drop to 13th on 18.

Leaders Bayern Munich, on 36, travel to Augsburg on Wednesday.