Hannover, who beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in midweek, took the lead after 13 minutes through Israeli midfielder Jan Rosenthal, but Stuttgart showed great spirit and were ahead 10 minutes into the second half. German international Thomas Hitzlsperger equalized in the 49th minute, and Brazilian forward Cacau added another five minutes later.

Stuttgart, the surprise package of this season, are now top of the table for the first time since October 2004 leading Bremen and Schalke by one point. Reigning champions Bayern Munich are four points back in fourth.

In Sunday's other game FC Nuremberg shared a 1-1 draw with promoted Alemannia Aachen.

The point does neither side any good with both in the bottom half of the table on 14 points.

Pacesetters Werder Bremen lost 3-1 against Borussia Dortmund on Friday, and Schalke took full advantage with former German international Kevin Kuranyi and Turkish striker Halil Altintop both scoring a brace to help the Gelsenkirchen club join Bremen on 23 points.

Bayern Munich also capitalized on Bremen's slip in a thrilling 3-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen.

Reigning champions Bayern looked to be heading for their second loss in a week, following their humiliating 1-0 home defeat to Hannover, with Brazilian Athirson putting Leverkusen ahead 2-1 in the 80th minute. However, Martin Demichelis leveled three minutes later and Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro scored an 86th minute winner in a thrilling finale.

Growing confidence at Schalke

Schalke, out of the UEFA Cup and the German cup, have pinned all their hopes on the league this season and they go from strength to strength with the latest triumph moving them into second. The game was wrapped up by half-time with Kuranyi scoring twice inside 32 minutes while Altintop was also on target after a brilliant 70 meter run from Brazilian full back Rafinha gave him a tap-in. Altintop's delicate chip for his second goal reflected the growing confidence in the Schalke camp.

Bayern found it tougher going in their see-saw match at Leverkusen with Stefan Kiessling cancelling out the 33rd minute opener from Hasan Salihamidzic. Athirson then put Leverkusen in front with just 10 minutes left, but Bayern showed the spirit of champions to score twice in the next six minutes to claim the spoils.

More bad news for Hamburg

At the wrong end of the table SV Hamburg manager Thomas Doll was left seething as his team drew 1-1 with Borussia Monchengladbach. Danijel Ljuboja scored on 66 minutes to put Hamburg ahead, but Oliver Neuville equalized six minutes from time.

It was Doll's 100th game in charge and prior to the game there was speculation that defeat against Gladbach, who had lost all their other away matches, would cost him his job.

A draw leaves Hamburg fourth from bottom and Doll's future remains unclear.