Bayer Leverkusen missed a chance to regain the Bundesliga lead after losing 3-2 to Nuremberg. The defeat was the first time this season that Leverkusen had lost in 25 Bundesliga matches. They remain in third place on 50 points behind Schalke and Bayern Munich, who were held to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Nuremberg's surprise win puts them in 15th place and out of the relegation zone. Coach Dieter Hecking praised his team's outstanding performance.

"It was a wonderful match from my side. They really fought very hard and deserved the victory, even if they lost the rhythm towards the end.

"Choupo-Moting really played well. I was hoping that he would have a match like that at some stage and I am glad it happened," said Hecking.

Nuremberg scored three goals before Leverkusen mounted a comeback in the last 30 minutes. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting gave Nuremberg the lead three minutes from the break and then scored again from close range on the stroke of half-time.

"I knew they had very good defenders, but I was 100 percent determined to put the ball in the back of the net," said the 20-year-old striker who is on loan from Hamburg. "It was an important win, but every game is important for us from now on," said Choupo-Moting.

Nuremberg continued dominating early in the second half and were rewarded for their efforts 10 minutes after the restart when Tavares beat Germany goalkeeper Rene Adler with a shot from a Marcel Risse cross.

Germany international Stefan Kiesling pulled one back for Leverkusen in the 66th minute and Patrick Helmes made it 3-2 seven minutes later with his first goal of the season. But Nuremberg held on and ended Leverkusen's unbeaten run.

Away win for Mainz

In Sunday's other game Hoffenheim were beaten 1-0 at home by Mainz 05. Aristide Bance scored a spectacular goal in the 69th minute after a breakaway, showing off his speed and precision shooting skills.

The Burkina Faso striker robbed a Hoffenheim player of the ball in their half and ran more than half the length of the field before beating Hoffenheim's goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand.

Mainz are now in ninth position with 35 points, while Hoffenheim are 11th with 32 points.

nrt/AP/AFP/dpa

Editor: Tony Dunham