Bayer Leverkusen missed a chance to pull within nine points of Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund by losing at ten-man Nurnberg.

Christian Eigler scored the only goal of the game in the 60th minute but did not make things easy for Nurnberg in the end by getting sent off in the 86th minute for a second yellow card. It was just a fourth loss of the season for Leverkusen, who stayed second.

The only chance of the first half came in the 42nd minute with Stefan Kiessling's shot going over the goal after a pass from Renato Augusto.

Michal Kadlec's shot four minutes after the break went just wide of the goal for Leverkusen. Nurnberg began to take over the game but Julian Schieber's attempt went wide in the 53rd minute and Leverkusen keeper Rene Adler made a fine stop from Almog Cohen's 16-yard shot six minutes later.

The hosts finally grabbed the lead on the hour mark courtesy of a powerful strike from Eigler which went in off the inside of the right post and in from 15 yards. Leverkusen pushed forward looking for the equaliser but Arturo Vidal's free-kick went just wide in the 70th minute and Kadlec's attempt was just inches left of the post seven minutes later.

The visitors were close again with seven minutes left but Simon Rolfes' shot from 20 yards went just wide. Nurnberg went a man down with four minutes to play when the goalscorer Eigler was given his second booking within five minutes. But Leverkusen could not take advantage of the extra man and pick up the late equaliser.