Bayern march on as Stuttgart crash

BERLIN, Germany -- Bayern Munich extended their lead at the top of the German Bundesliga with a 2-1 victory at struggling Bochum, while Hamburg climbed to third with a 4-1 win over defending champions Stuttgart.

At Bochum, the hosts side took an 11th-minute lead through Germany under-21 striker Dennis Grote.

But Bayern leveled when France midfielder Franck Ribery flicked a pass from striker Miroslav Klose past keeper Jan Lastuvka in the 35th minute.

And Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger came off the bench to seal the win in the 78th minute to put Bayern six points clear of Werder Bremen and Hamburg.

Hamburg striker Ivica Olic smashed a hat-trick in the opening 28 minutes against Stuttgart, who had Mexican midfielder Pavel Pardo sent off after a clash with midfielder David Jarolim just before the interval.

Dutch defender Joris Mathijsen made it 4-0 with a header after 59 minutes before Stuttgart's Serdar Tasci grabbed a consolation goal on 73.

Armin Veh's side suffered an eighth defeat in 11 games to be left languishing leave them 13th in the 18-team league.

Werder Bremen took second place on goal difference from Hamburg with a 3-2 win at home to Hertha Berlin as all the goals came in the second half of the match.

Last season's runners-up Schalke were held 1-1 at Hansa Rostock, while German Cup holders Nuremberg stayed in the bottom three despite notching their first win in 10 games with a 5-1 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 with Borussia Dortmund, while on Friday night Duisburg won 2-1 at bottom side Energie Cottbus.

Karlsruhe missed a great opportunity to go second when they were held to a goalless draw at home to Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday.

All the goals came in a dramatic spell midway through the first half as Hanover were held to a 2-2 draw by rivals VfL Wolfsburg.

Brazilian midfield player Marcelinho sparked the spree on 21 minutes when he put Wolfsburg in front before Sergio Pinto equalized eight minutes later.

Wolfsburg were back in front less than a minute later when Germany Under-21 international Ashkan Dejagah was on target.

Hanover's German defender Michael Tarnat completed the goal burst with a header on 34 minutes -- and that was how it stayed. E-mail to a friend

All About FC Bayern