Bayern Munich regained top spot in the Bundesliga from RB Leipzig but were made to work hard for a 1-0 win at bottom-placed Darmstadt.
Douglas Costa's eye-catching goal in the 71st minute was enough for Carlo Ancelotti's men to go back above Leipzig on goal difference ahead of the top two's meeting at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
Ramon Berndroth's Darmstadt side began brightly in attack and were disciplined in defence -- but it was Bayern who made the breakthrough thanks to an unstoppable 30-yard strike from Costa with just under 20 minutes remaining.
The hosts could have levelled in the 77th minute when Neuer only parried Jerome Gondorf's free-kick, but Peter Niemeyer headed the loose ball straight back at the Bayern goalkeeper rather than picking a spot to his side.
Ingolstadt moved out of the bottom two in the Bundesliga thanks to a surprise 2-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen.
The visitors took the lead in the 26th minute with a powerful Alfredo Morales header from Markus Suttner's cross.
Early in the second half, Leverkusen had Charles Aranguiz dismissed for a second yellow card but Admir Mehmedi brought the home side level with a deflected shot just a minute later.
Ingolstadt were not to be denied, and Almog Cohen, who had earlier missed a great chance, grabbed the winner.