Stuttgart led the standings before the match but former manager Felix Magath, who swapped Stuttgart for Bayern in June 2004, enjoyed a win over his old club to move one point behind them and Werder Bremen.

"We have set our target to stay near the top going into the winter break and this win helps us," said Bayern captain Oliver Kahn. "As long as we are up there - and we are only three points off the top - we can think about retaining our title."

Bremen, who face Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday, made it just one point out of six with a disappointing 2-2 draw at Alemannia Aachen.

Stuttgart loss puts Schalke out in front

The loss for Stuttgart means Schalke 04 become the seventh different team to lead the 18-strong Bundesliga this season following a 4-2 win over Energie Cottbus on Saturday.

"We had a two-goal lead and then stopped playing. We let their long balls put us under pressure," said Schalke coach Mirko Slomka. "Fortunately we scored another two goals and are delighted to be top of the table, although there is a long way to go yet."

Schalke, out of the UEFA Cup and domestic cup, are three points ahead of Bayern after three successive wins.

Gomez shines early

Before the top of the table clash, Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer had singled out Stuttgart's German Under-21 international forward Mario Gomez as a talent for the future. The young star needed just eight minutes to produce a clinical finish past Oliver Kahn.

Stuttgart had been dreaming of their first win in Munich since September 1999, but Bayern had other ideas and equalized in the 27th minute through a Roy Makaay header. Peruvian international Claudio Pizarro then put Bayern ahead ten minutes later tapping in from close range after a great cross from Marc van Bommel.

Bayern held on and introduced German international midfielder Sebastian Deisler in the final minute for his first appearance since March when a cruciate ligament injury ended his season.

"You could see that Stuttgart deserve to be up at the top. We went behind but the good thing was that the goal was so early on," Magath explained. "The team then took the game by the scruff of the neck and deserved to win 2-1. We can go into the weekend very happy with ourselves."

Bremen settle for final-quarter tie

After losing 3-1 to Borussia Dortmund last weekend Bremen were keen to bounce back but had to settle for a point against Aachen with Miroslav Klose salvaging a 2-2 tie with a 79th minute equalizer.

It was hardly a confidence booster ahead of Wednesday's crucial Champions League match with Chelsea and they slip to third, two points behind Schalke.

"We wanted the three points but Aachen were too strong for that," said Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf. "It was a great game that had everything for the neutral."

Goals from Hamit Altintop and former German international Kevin Kuranyi put Schalke two goals up after 15 minutes against Cottbus but Sergiu Radu scored twice in three minutes (28, 31) to peg them back.

Christian Pander put Schalke back in front and Levan Kobiaschvili scored another as they moved to the summit.

Pointless Hamburg playing for pride

Elsewhere, Hamburg boss Thomas Doll is still searching for some relief after a 0-0 draw with bottom side Mainz. Hamburg are third from bottom of the table and their Champions League tie against Arsenal on Tuesday is an unwanted distraction.

Hamburg have yet to collect a point in Europe's flagship competition and are playing for pride as they cannot even qualify for the consolation UEFA Cup.