Bayern Munich won the top clash at second-placed Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 on Saturday, while defending champion Stuttgart lost to newly-elevated Hansa Rostock 1-2.

 

Miroslav Klose set up Italian international Luca Toni for the decisive goal with 40 minutes gone, helping Bayern stay unbeaten in the new season.

 

It was the sixth goal of the season for Toni, making the powerful forward take the second berth at the scorers' list, two goals after top scorer Klose.

 

With 20 points in hands, Bayern are now four points clear of FC Schalke 04, who beat Hertha BSC Berlin 1-0 at home earlier on Friday, sealing the second place.

 

This is the first defeat for Bayer after six unbeaten competitive matches.

 

"It was a hard-fought victory," Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said after the match.

 

"There were some critical moments. The ball was clearly over the line on the disallowed goal. After a call like that everyone is a bit nervous," he added.

 

A big surprise for German soccer fans, superior Stuttgart suffered a shameful defeat in Rostock 1-2.

 

The defeat is also a serious setback for Stuttgart before their match in the Champions League against Barcelona next Tuesday.

 

Tobias Rathgeb, with his first goal of the season, put Hansa in front, while defender Orestes extended their lead.

 

German international Mario Gomez could only reduced the deficit in the 73rd minute for Stuttgart.

 

This is the third win for the host team, which also means that they move out of the relegation zone.

 

Karlsruhe defeated powerful Borussia Dortmund 3-1, winning the fourth out of their last five games to climb to third place.

 

The biggest sweeping win of the season was achieved by Werder Bremen, unexpectedly beat Arminia Bielefeld 8-1.

 

Bosnian international Zvjezdan Misimovic rescued Nurnberg a point against his former club VfL Bochum. He scored the equalizer in the 81th minute.

 

The two teams shared six goals in this dramatic match.

 

Without a single win in the past six matches, Nuremberg remain in the drop zone while Bochum, who have now not won in five matches, remain in the lower regions of the table.

 

In another match, Hamburger SV saw an unwilling tie of 2-2 with VfL Wolfsburg.

 

On Sunday, there will be clashes, one is between Hannover 96 and MSV Duisburg, and the other, Energie Cottbus is to face Eintracht Frankfurt at home.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2007)