Hitzfeld's delight with midfield duo

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  1. CelticKing

    CelticKing The Green Monster

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    Hitzfeld's delight with midfield duo</p>

    MUNICH, Germany (AFP) - Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld says he is delighted with the form of midfielders Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger as his side opened a six-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.

    Bayern had to come from behind at VfL Bochum on Saturday to seal a 2-1 win as French star Ribery and Schweinsteiger scored either side of half-time to maintain their side's unbeaten record.

    The German giants top the league table with 26 points after ten games and are six-points clear of second-placed Werder Bremen.

    But Bochum took a surprise lead when Germany under-21 striker Dennis Grote scored with a superb shot on 11 minutes.

    It was not the start Bayern wanted with second-string goalkeeper Michael Rensing deputising for captain Oliver Kahn who is recovering from an elbow operation.

    But Bayern were back on level terms after 35 minutes when French star Franck Ribery equalised with a deft touch as he flicked striker Miroslav Klose's pass past diving Bochum 'keeper Jan Lastuvka.

    And German international Bastian Schweinsteiger came off the bench to seal the win with a strike on 78 minutes.

    "Schweinsteiger's substitution gave us fresh impetus and we were fortunate in that Ribery has hit peak form again," said Hitzfeld.

    "Franck was the best player on the field.

    "And Schweinsteiger gave his critics the right answer by scoring a good goal."

    With less than a third of the season played Bayern already look set to pick up their 21st crown as German champions, but Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel insists his side still have it all to do.

    "We're strong in every area at the moment, even when the pressure's on," he said.

    "But we're not invincible, and apart from the League Cup, we've won nothing yet.

    "We have to show our ability for a full season, and if we succeed, we can call ourselves a decent team. But I have a good feeling about it."

    Bayern face Red Star Belgrade away on Thursday in the UEFA Cup.</p>
     

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