VfB Stuttgart 3 - 1 Bayern Munich

VfB Stuttgart 3-1 Bayern Munich

Updated: November 10, 2007, 11:50 AM ET

STUTTGART, November 10 (Bundesliga) - Bayern Munich held onto their lead in the German Bundesliga despite a loss at reigning champions Stuttgart, who continued their march up the table.

Mario Gomez sandwiched two goals (10th and 42nd) around a Yildiray Basturk's long strike (30th) as Stuttgart collected their third straight victory in the league.

Armin Veh's troops improved to 19 points, two points adrift of an UEFA Cup spot.

Bayern played the final 20 minutes with 10 men as Lucio was red-carded.

But Luca Toni scored a consolation goal in the 86th minute as Munich remained just one point ahead of Hamburg and Werder Bremen with 28 points after their third game without a victory.

Ottmar Hitzfeld's team came into the game having allowed just four goals in the first 12 games before falling apart in Stuttgart, where Bayern's 17-year-old super talent Toni Kroos started for the first time after being sub five times.

Stuttgart started very aggressively and grabbed the lead in the 10th minute with Gomez's sixth goal of the season.

Ludovic Magnin raced down the left side and crossed into the box.

Bayern defender Martin Demichelis mis-timed his clearance attempt and Gomez deflected the ball in with his stomach at the far post.

Bayern found themselves better in the game and Toni twice had header chances (14th and 23rd) but couldn't beat Stuttgart keeper Raphael Schafer.

Stuttgart doubled the lead on the half-hour with Basturk's fine long-distance shot.

Roberto Hilbert passed back from the left wing onto the lurking Turkish international, who hit a strike into the upper right corner first time, though Oliver Kahn got his hand on the ball.

And Veh's team went up 3-0 with a goal by Gomez in the 42nd.

Cacau sent an overhead volley across the box which was run down by Hilbert and sent back into the the middle to the German international, who volleyed home all alone.

Bayern refused to give up and Toni broke through again just two minutes into the break, but Schafer again was perfectly placed against the Italian star.

Munich went a man down with 20 minutes remaining when Lucio was red-carded after throwing an elbow at Magnin.

And Toni finally scored in the 86th. Miroslav Klose hit the right upright with a long-distance shot and the ball went directly to Toni, who volleyed it past Schafer.