Bayern Munich go 12 points clear after 4-1 win

Bayern Munich beat VfB Stuttgart 4-1 yesterday to move 12 points clear in the Bundesliga with only one point required from their last four games to seal a 21st German title.

Luca Toni scored his 36th goal in 42 matches in the eighth minute. Antonio da Silva equalised 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.

Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld had rested Franck Ribery along with four other first-team players ahead of a semi-final second leg UEFA Cup match on Thursday at Zenit SP.

However, he decided to send Ribery on in the 57th minute and the France playmaker scored twice within two minutes.

Ribery blasted a spectacular long-range shot into the top right corner beyond the fingertips of keeper Raphael Schaefer in the 75th minute and then beat two Stuttgart defenders before firing in a crisp shot with his weaker left foot.

"He comes off the bench and shows his class right away," said Hitzfeld, who also sent in Ze Roberto for the final 23 minutes to tune up for St Petersburg. "Two ball artists go in and Ribery scores two dream goals."

Hitzfeld made it clear that reaching the UEFA Cup final was the top priority yesterday with the Bundesliga all but wrapped up. "I'm glad I rested Ribery. He was hugely motivated when he came in off the bench," he said.

Bayern, who drew 1-1 at home with Zenit St Petersburg last week, lead the Bundesliga with 66 points. They won the German Cup last Saturday.

Other result: Bayer Leverkusen vs Wolfsburg 2-2.