Toni Kroos (R) of Leverkusen is challenged by Andreas Ottl of Nuernberg during the Bundesliga match.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FRANKFURT, Germany -- Bayer Leverkusen missed a chance to regain the Bundesliga lead Sunday by losing 3-2 at lowly Nuremberg for its first defeat of the season.

Nuremberg took a 3-0 lead early in the second half before Leverkusen fought back with two goals within seven minutes.

But it was not enough as Leverkusen remained on 50 points from 25 rounds for third place, three points behind leader Bayern Munich.

Eric Maxim Coupo-Moting scored in the 42nd and 45th minutes to give Nuremberg a 2-0 lead at the break, before Mikael Tavares added the third in the 55th as Nuremberg climbed out of the relegation zone.

Stefan Kiessling pulled a goal back for Leverkusen in the 66th minute and Patrick Helmes made it 3-2 seven minutes later with his first goal of the season.

"We just woke up too late," Leverkusen playmaker Toni Kroos. "We tried everything we could at the end, but it was not enough. They took the two-goal lead early on and it was tough to come back."

Nuremberg jumped to 15th place with 21 points, one point from the drop zone.

"We are not out of the relegation fight yet," Nuremberg coach Dieter Hecking said. "It's still very close and we will have a fight the rest of the season."

In the late game Sunday, Mainz beat Hoffenheim 1-0 on the road thanks to Aristide Bance's impressive goal after a long run in the 69th minute.

Promoted side Mainz jumped to ninth place in the league with 35 points. Hoffenheim are 11th with 32 points.