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LIGAl: French star shines as Bayern Munich snap losing streak

Franck Ribery scored one goal and set up another on Saturday to help Bayern Munich defeat VfL Wolfsburg 2-1 and retain a one-point lead in the Bundesliga.

The France international crossed to Miroslav Klose for a 30th-minute goal, then dribbled the length of the field in the 50th, shooting through Wolfsburg goalkeeper Simon Jentzsch's legs to double Bayern's lead.

Bayern snapped a three-game winless streak to stay a point ahead of Werder Bremen, 2-0 winners against Energie Cottbus.

Bayern were in control until a deflected cross in the 72nd reached Wolfsburg's Ashkan Dejagah, who scored.

The goal seemed to unnerve the Bayern players.

"Suddenly they got nervous, you can see the confidence wasn't there after the last results," said Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. "We're still not as strong as we were at the start of the season."

Hitzfeld held a meeting with Ribery earlier this week, which seemed to pay off as the Frenchman regained his form despite the wet and cold conditions. He dribbled through four defenders on the first goal, leaving Klose to sidefoot in his cross.

"I tried to give him the courage to play well again," Hitzfeld said. "Maybe he's bothered by the cold weather, it isn't like Marseilles here."

Bremen welcomed back Ivan Klasnic, whose career seemed to be over after two liver transplants.

"It was wonderful, just wonderful," Klasnic said of playing again for the first time in nearly a year. "I think I had a decent game."

VfB Stuttgart won their fourth straight, 4-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt while Leverkusen also routed Duisburg 4-1.

Bochum defeated Arminia Bielefeld 3-0 and Schalke edged Hannover 96 3-2.
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