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Bayern Munich's players celebrate
scoring against Stuttgart during their German Bundesliga soccer match in
Munich April 27, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
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BERLIN, April 27 (Xinhua) -- German Bundesliga leaders
Bayern Munich have moved closer to their 21st title after they beat Stuttgart
4-1 on Sunday, while Leverkusen secured a lucky 2-2 draw thanks to an own goal
from Wolfsburg.
The home victory left Bayern 12 points lead in the
Bundesliga with only one point required from their last four games to secure the
top title.
Bayern had a dream start in front of 69,000 in the
sold out Allianz Arena when Luca Toni opened the scoring with his 21st of the
season after just eight minutes.
Antonio da Silva from defending champion Stuttgart
equalized nine minutes later before Mark van Bommel fired in a superb low shot
that curled around the wall off an indirect free-kick in the 55th minute.
In the second half, Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld
decided to send French star Franck Ribery on in the 57th minute and the French
playmaker scored twice within two minutes.
Ribery blasted an unstoppable 25-meter thunderbolt
into the top-right corner in the 75th minute and then beat two Stuttgart
defenders before firing in a crisp shot with his weaker left foot.
"I'm glad I rested Ribery, he was hugely motivated
when he came in off the bench," said Hitzfeld after the match.
Apart from Ribery, Hitzfeld had rested four other
first-team players ahead of a semi-final second leg UEFA Cup match on Thursday
at Zenit St. Petersburg.
Hitzfeld made it clear that reaching the UEFA Cup
final was the top priority with the Bundesliga title all but wrapped up.
Bayern, who drew 1-1 at home with Zenit St Petersburg
last week, lead the Bundesliga table with 66 points, or 12 points in the lead.
They won the German Cup last Saturday.
In another match on Sunday, an own goal from Ricardo
Costa 17 minutes from time to hand Bayer Leverkusen a point in the 2-2 draw.
Leverkusen have picked up only four points from their
last six matches, however. The "Wolves", with just one point from three matches,
stay seventh.
Edin Dzeko had opened the scoring for Wolfsburg after
13 minutes when he followed up Grafite's effort that hit the post.
Bayer equalized through Theofanis Gekas in the 33rd
minute, but Makoto Hasebe restored VfL's lead ten minutes later, again after
good work from Grafite.
Josue cleared off his line from Sergej Barbarez's
header before Costa put through his own net.
Bayer created several opportunities in a frantic finale, but VfL keeper Diego Benaglio kept the hosts at bay.
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