Neuer, Lewandowski & Kovac united after Klassiker defeat to Dortmund

Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer and perennial top scorer Robert Lewandowski got behind coach Niko Kovac following the 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in Saturday's Klassiker.

The record Bundesliga champions twice took the lead at the Signal Iduna Park - both times through Lewandowski - but BVB took the spoils with Marco Reus grabbing a brace of his own before Paco Alcacer sealed the winner to send Die Schwarzgelben seven points clear of their great rivals at the top of the table.

"It was a fantastic game today," said an upbeat Kovac at his post-match press conference. "We had the game under control in the first half, Dortmund did after the break. They hit us on the counter, which shouldn't happen to us.

"We can be satisfied with the performance today. It was our best game since we played Schalke [Bayern beat the Royal Blues 2-0 on Matchday 4] and we need to build on that now. Seven points looks like a lot, but anything's possible in football."

Bayern have never overhauled a seven-point deficit at this stage of a Bundesliga season, but the Bavarians turned things around last year to lift an unprecedented sixth consecutive Meisterschale, and Neuer is convinced better is to come.

"We didn't lose face here today," he asserted in an exclusive interview with bundesliga.com. "We don't need to talk about our approach. Everyone gave their all. Of course, we had the game in our hands by going 1-0 and then 2-1 ahead, so it hurts and it's disappointing, but we saw the good side of FC Bayern today and we have to keep that up."

Saturday's match was something of a first for Lewandowski. The Poland captain had never before lost a Bundesliga game for Bayern in which he had scored, winning 68 of those and drawing the other five, and he thought a share of the points would have been fair.

"It was an amazing game from both sides," he said. "But I think we made too many small mistakes today, which meant Dortmund had their chances and could score. We took the lead twice but still leave here with no points, and that hurts because I think we should have at least a point."

Now just a single goal behind Reus, Alcacer and Borussia Mönchengladbach's Alasanne Plea at the top of the scoring charts, Lewy looks to be back on track. With Bayern united in defeat, it wouldn't be safe to bet against the club following suit after the international break.