Bayern Munich coach Felix Magath remains confident about his side's Bundesliga title chances, despite Sunday's 0-1 defeat by rival Schalke 04.

　　Lincoln's 69th minute freekick took Schalke three points clear of Bayern at the top but with nine matches left to play Magath feels his side is still on course for domestic and European success.

　　"We're in second place in the Bundesliga, we are through to the quarterfinals in the Champions League and we're also moving ahead in the German Cup," Magath said.

　　"As far as the championship goes, we're in a great position. I don't know the rest of Schalke's schedule but we've had a lot of tough matches and I know we'll win some more points this season."

　　Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn agreed that Sunday's defeat did not spell the end of the Bavarian side's title hopes.

　　"Anyone who believes this match will decide the championship is in for a big disappointment," said the Bayern skipper. "I wasn't especially impressed with Schalke. They didn't have many goal chances either. It certainly wasn't a very good match."

　　Schalke 04 coach Ralf Rangnick was also wary of viewing the result as a defining moment in the title battle.

　　"We're delighted to have won this match and to be at the top of table, but the victory won't be worth anything unless we win next week in Mainz as well," said Rangnick.

　　"This win doesn't count for a lot. What counts is who's on top at end of season.

　　"We've won our fifth match in a row and if the boys want to go out and celebrate that's okay. But it's nothing more than winning one important match."

　　The players were more upbeat, with German forward Gerald Asamoah saying the result had bolstered the team's self-belief. "Our goal is obviously to win the title and if we can beat Bayern we can accomplish that," Asamoah said.

　　Stuttgart moved into third place after beating Dortmund 2-0 behind a pair of goals by Silvio Meissner.

　　While Meissner scored the goals for Stuttgart with a 43rd-minute header and injury-time penalty, Germany 'keeper Timo Hildebrand saved the win for Stuttgart.

　　Stuttgart played after the 49th minute with 10 men following Fernando Meira's ejection for bringing down a Dortmund player in the box, drawing a penalty call.

　　Hildebrand leaped to the left to stop Jan Koller's attempt, then followed with two more outstanding saves.

　　(Reuters)