Borussia Monchengladbach have inflicted a first home defeat of the season on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to keep their own European ambitions well on track.

A goal in either half from Raffael secured the memorable victory for Lucien Favre's men, who climb back above Bayer Leverkusen into third place as a result.

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The home side began the contest on top, although they were constantly struggling to make their hold of possession count in advanced areas due to some bad decision making.

That proved costly with a little over 30 minutes played when, from what was essentially their first attacking move of the game, Gladbach took the lead through Raffael's well-struck half-volley.

Manuel Neuer should have done better to keep it out, however, allowing the ball to squirm through his hands on the goalline in what has to go down as a goalkeeping error from the experienced stopper.

Bayern nearly levelled things up prior to the interval when Thomas Muller headed Jerome Boateng's cross back across goal in the direction of Robert Lewandowski, but Martin Stranzl got his name to the ball first.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the champions-elect continued to see large amounts of the ball in the second half, although yet again they were struggling to do a lot with it.

In fact, it was the Foals, sitting 20 points off their opponents in the league table heading into this one, who added a crucial second with 12 minutes to play.

Neuer was on hand to push Andre Hahn's powerful strike onto the post initially, but soon after Raffael again put the ball right through the body of the German international keeper with a somewhat tame effort to give his side some breathing space.

Fabian Johnson fluffed his lines when through as Gladbach wasted the chance to add a third goal, while up the other end Yann Sommer had to be alert to deny Lewandowski's header in what proved to be Bayern's final opening of the game.

It means just a second reverse of the season for Pep Guardiola's charges, who remain well clear at the top despite the rare setback.