Bayern equal record start
Munich - FC Bayern Munich matched their own record start of seven straight Bundesliga victories, held jointly with 1. FSV Mainz 05 and 1. FC Kaiserslautern, courtesy of a comfortable 2-0 success against 1899 Hoffenheim.
Ribery on song
Franck Ribery was the undoubted star of the show as he netted in either half to secure the Bavarians a win that was never threatened. The record champions pull further clear at the top of the standings, while Hoffenheim boss Markus Babbel's record of never having beaten Bayern as a coach remains unchanged.
Welcomed by an Oktoberfest-inspired crowd at the sold-out Allianz Arena, Bayern made one change to the side which lost away to BATE Borisov in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, with Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger coming in for Luiz Gustavo in defensive midfield. Schweinsteiger added obvious rhythm to the hosts' play, but it was Ribery who looked hungriest for goals, his pace and trickery wreaking havoc on the left early on.
Nobody gambled on the Frenchman's inviting cross three minutes in, so Ribery soon took matters into his own hands. After receiving the ball from Thomas Müller, who was forced off soon afterwards having collided with Mario Mandzukic, Ribery jinked past Andreas Beck and rolled a delicate finish through the legs of Hoffenheim keeper Koen Casteels to put Bayern in front.
Curling second
Though the Bavarians were kept in check for much of the first half subsequently, Ribery almost made it two approaching the half-time break. A simple interchange with Schweinsteiger sent the winger racing through the centre, but his right-foot finish from the edge of the box went well wide of the upright.
Jupp Heynckes' side quickly upped the ante in the second period as Ribery netted his second of the game, curling a composed finish into the far corner after Toni Kroos had extended Mandzukic's original cross to double his Bundesliga tally for the season.
Martinez misses
It truly was an all-action display from Ribery, who ran tirelessly, chasing down opponents throughout. Yet Bayern as a team eased off, perhaps mindful of the upcoming internationals but still creating a glaring opportunity which record signing Javi Martinez really should have done better with when he glanced Xherdan Shaqiri's cross wide from point-blank range.
It was never likely to be a consequential miss as Bayern played out the latter stages with next to no trouble to move five points clear of closest challengers Eintracht Frankfurt, who play titleholders Dortmund on Sunday, at the top of the standings.
Line-ups and statistics
Andy James reporting from Munich
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