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Bayern win to move six points clear

Bayern Munich's Lucio, left, and Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrate during the Bundesliga match between VFL Bochum and Bayern Munich in Bochum, Germany, on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

Bayern Munich are off to the best Bundesliga start in 13 years after a 2-1 win against VfL Bochum on Saturday.

Franck Ribery set up a goal and scored another as Bayern recorded their eighth win of the season to leave them on 26 points.

The Bavarians moved six points clear of Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV.

Despite having 65 percent of possession, Bayern's dominance didn't produce the winner until Bochum goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka failed to stop Bastian Schweinsteiger's side-footed shot in the 79th minute.

Ribery, who crossed to Schweinsteiger for the goal, had backheeled the ball past Lastuvka to score in the 35th.

"We had luck today that Ribery was in top form," Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said. "Then we inserted some new players, and it paid off with a wonderful goal from Schweinsteiger."

German under-21 international Dennis Grote dribbled past defenders Lucio and Mark van Bommel to score for Bochum in the 11th minute to stun Bayern.

Schalke let a win slip because of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's "hair raising" blunder, as coach Mirko Slomka called the mistake. It led to a 1-1 draw against Hansa Rostock.

With Schalke leading 1-0, Neuer attempted to roll the ball to a teammate, but Bochum's Marc Stein intercepted and chipped it over the goalkeeper's head to level in the 56th minute.

Werder Bremen beat Hertha Berlin 3-2 for their fourth win.

Bremen's goals came from Hugo Almeida in the 57th, Markus Rosenberg five minutes later and Leon Andreasen in the 74th.

Gilberto scored in the 61st and Solomon Okoronkwo in injury time for the ninth-place Berlin.

Ivica Olic scored the first hat trick for Hamburger SV since the inception of the Bundesliga. Hamburg won 4-1 to send VfB Stuttgart deeper into crisis.

Stuttgart are off to the worst start for a Bundesliga champion with 10 points to be in 13th place. Several Hamburg players said they didn't appear to have their minds on the game.

Olic scored in the seventh, 22nd and 35th minutes, while Joris Mathijsen added Hamburg's fourth goal in the 62nd. Stuttgart's consolation goal came from Serdar Tasci in the 73rd.

Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 with Dortmund and Nuremberg routed Frankfurt 5-1.
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