Bayern Munich bounced back after two chastening defeats to rout Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0 on Saturday, with Franck Ribery the main architect of the much needed pick-me-up.
The France international scored one of the goals and was instrumental in setting up another in a result that has given under-fire coach Jurgen Klinsmann some much needed breathing space from his critics.
Bayern took a third-minute lead when Luca Toni set up Ribery, who scored with an angled shot from the right from 20m for his seventh goal of the season.
PHOTO: AFP
Barely quarter of an hour later the former Marseille playmaker conjured up a pinpoint free-kick with his left foot for Toni to volley in.
On 35 minutes, Brazilian Lucio headed in from a corner for Bayern’s third, with Bastian Schweinsteiger completing a satisfactory afternoon’s work three minutes after the break.
Bayern remain three points behind Wolfsburg, who notched up their ninth straight win, a 2-1 defeat of Borussia Munchengladbach.
Wolfsburg failed to replicate last weekend’s stunning romp over Bayern over a Munchengladbach side that are struggling to avoid the drop.
Wolfsburg’s Edin Dzeko put the Bundesliga leaders in front in the 21st minute, only for the home side to level with 11 minutes left on the clock.
But Wolfsburg maintained their impressive run with Sascha Riether’s 85th minute match winner.
Elsewhere, Hoffenheim crashed 3-0 at VfL Bochum after having two players sent off, while Hertha Berlin were beaten 2-0 at Hannover 96.
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