Leverkusen lose unbeaten record
Sunday, March 7, 2010
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen passed up the opportunity to replace FC Bayern München as Bundesliga leaders after a 3-2 defeat at 1. FC Nürnberg that ended their unbeaten league record for the season.
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FC Bayern München remain top of the Bundesliga after previously unbeaten Bayer 04 Leverkusen slumped to a 3-2 loss at struggling 1. FC Nürnberg.
Bayern, who were thwarted by former employee Lukas Podolski in Saturday's 1-1 draw at 1. FC Köln, would have slipped into second on goal difference had Leverkusen emerged victorious. Jupp Heynckes' charges were unable to seize their chance in Bavaria, however, and suffered their first league defeat since 23 May last year.
In fact, they found themselves 3-0 down to second-bottom Nürnberg within 55 minutes, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting striking twice just before half-time and Mickaël Tavares adding a second ten minutes after the interval.
Leverkusen did their utmost to mount an improbable comeback but ultimately fell short despite both Stefan Kiessling (66) and Patrick Helmes (73) reducing their arrears. Having set a new Bundesliga record for 24 matches without defeat this season, they now find themselves third, one point behind FC Schalke 04 and three adrift of Bayern. 1. FSV Mainz 05 moved above TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and into ninth with a 1-0 victory over their hosts in the day's other game.
