Victory was crucial for Bayern - Ribery

BERLIN - France winger Franck Ribery admitted winning was all that mattered for Bayern Munich as its 4-1 victory over Werder Bremen put it back on top of the German league, usurping defending champion Dortmund.

Ribery scored two superb individual goals either side of halftime, while Dutch winger Arjen Robben converted two penalties as Munich opened a one-point lead at the top after Dortmund drew 1-1 at Moenchengladbach.

Victory prevented Bayern from suffering its third straight defeat after losing at home to Dortmund and at Mainz in recent weeks.

Ribery now has eight league goals this season and has played in all 15 games so far.

"It was definitely better than last week," said Ribery, after Bayern slumped to a 3-2 defeat at struggler Mainz last Sunday.

"Winning was what mattered here. It's never good when Bayern lose, and it's always hard work against Bremen.

"We did well today, we were aggressive and closed them down early. I really enjoyed the game."

Bayern plays two mid-table teams in the next fortnight and is on course to finish the year in pole position with the Bundesliga set to break for winter on Dec 18.

"We have two league games to go now, against Stuttgart and Cologne, and and we want to win both," said the Frenchman.

Ribery put Bayern ahead in the 22nd minute, but Bremen drew level just after the break when Sweden striker Markus Rosenberg turned Bayern defender Holger Badstuber inside out, before firing past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Robben converted the first of his two penalties on 69 minutes when Bayern's Thomas Mueller was fouled in the penalty area and Ribery then added his second on 77 minutes when he drew the goalkeeper and then fired into an empty net.

Bremen midfielder Aaron Hunt was sent off with 10 minutes left for a foul on Bayern's Toni Kroos before Greek defender Sokratis held back Ribery in the penalty area for Robben to convert his second spot kick.

Agence France-Presse