Bayern started the day six points behind co-leaders Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 and needing a win to stay in the hunt for a third successive title.

Mark van Bommel missed two clear chances in the first half but otherwise the Bavarians offered little threat against their relegation-threatened opponents.

Bayern's second setback in five days -- they lost 3-2 at Borussia Dortmund in their first match in 2007 -- means they will fall eight points off the title pace if one or both of Werder and Schalke win on Wednesday.

Werder, who lead the table on 39 points, are away at Bayer Leverkusen. Schalke, who trail on goal difference, are at home to Alemannia Aachen.

Stuttgart climbed into third place on 35 points following a 3-2 win at home to Arminia Bielefeld, with Bayern dropping a place to fourth on 34, outside the Champions League places.

"We're very disappointed, obviously," Bayern goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn told Arena TV. "We have to realise we don't have a season ticket for first place.

"It all looks very bad at the moment."

Bayern had been warned by coach Felix Magath that anything less than victory would spell the end of the title chances.

They started as if weighed down by those words, with passes going astray continually.

They eventually started to threaten with 10 minutes to go in the first half.

Bastian Schweinsteiger played a brilliant first time through ball into the path of Van Bommel. The Dutchman had time and space to pick a spot but instead shot hastily and far too close to the keeper.

Philipp Lahm cut in from the left and whacked a shot wide before Van Bommel missed his second excellent chance, failing to content with an attempted header after being picked out by a cross from the right.

Bayern came close again in the second minute of added time at the end of the first half, with Schweinsteiger bringing the ball forward and bringing a fine save from Jaroslav Drobny with his swerving low drive.