Bayern survive fightback for victory

BERLIN, Germany -- Bayern Munich survived a fightback at Hansa Rostock, as goals from Franck Ribery and Luca Toni gave them a 2-1 win to open-up a three-point lead as the Bundesliga returned from its six-week winter break.

Bayern looked to be cruising, having built a 2-0 half-time lead, only to concede an early second-half goal as Rostock made a fight of it.

Having hammered Hansa 3-0 on the opening weekend of the season -- Bayern struggled in the run up to the break with two lifeless 0-0 draws against mid-table sides and had seen their six-point lead in October evaporate.

But they started superbly on Friday, when French midfield star Ribery put them ahead after converting Ze Roberto's cross.

Italian World Cup winner Toni bagged his 10th league goal of the season -- and his 19th in all competitions for Bayern -- when he latched onto defender Willy Sagnol's pass to make it 2-0 in the 42nd minute.

But Hansa made a game of it and were the first to score after the break when striker Enrico Kern broke down the right flank and his shot beat Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, only for it to hit the post.

Christian Rahn smashed the rebound past Kahn, but onto the cross bar and when the ball fell to Kern again he made no mistake and drove his shot home on 52 minutes.

Hansa had the chance to draw level moments later when only a superb tackle from Ze Roberto denied midfielder Fin Bartels a clear shot on goal.

And Toni then squandered a chance to put the game beyond doubt 10 minutes from time when he powered his way through the defense, but smashed his shot over the bar.

Bayern's win now puts pressure on their main title rivals Werder Bremen to pick up a win at home to strugglers Bochum and close the three-point gap behind the league leaders. E-mail to a friend