Bayern win Bavarian derby

BERLIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- German record champion Bayern Munich won Bavarian derby with a 2-1 home victory against Nuernberg, moving themselves another three points closer to the top of the Bundesliga standings.

The match got off to a slow start in front of a 69,000 crowd in the Allianz Arena, Bayern closing down their opponents early but needing quarter of an hour to get a shot on goal themselves, Nuernberg keeper Raphael Schaefer easily saving Arjen Robben's effort.

The visitors were for the most part standing their ground well and chances were few and far between, but with half an hour played Bayern came within inches of the opener.

Mario Gomez latched onto a short pass from Thomas Mueller and diverted the ball onto the bar. From there it bounced straight down and back into play, the referee acknowledging his assistant's call that it had not crossed the goal-line.

A minute before half time Ivica Olic hit a shot on the turn which Schaefer and Javier Pinola cleared in combination with Gomezbearing down.

Bayern coach Louis van Gaal once again opted to use Franck Ribery as a second-half substitute, Gomez making way for the French attacking midfielder on this occasion.

Bayern came out after the break looking more purposeful and in the 55th minute they went in front with a finely-crafted goal. Mueller chipped the ball through Maroh's legs to Olic and the Croatian international slotted it passed Schaefer into the right-hand corner from 12 metres out.

The hosts seemed to have a firm grip on proceedings now, but eighteen minutes later Bayern hauled themselves back on level terms. Ikay Guendogan expertly drew in three Bayern players before releasing a pinpoint pass to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who rifled home from just inside the box at the 73rd minute.

That was the signal for Bayern to shift up a gear. At the 82nd minute defender and Belgian international Daniel van Buyten rose to meet a cross from Robben and net at the far post with a glancing header to seal the victory.

Thanks to the home win, Bayern climbed from the fifth place to the third at the Bundesliga table.

Also on Saturday, Cologne astonished powerhouse Stuttgart with a 2-0 away victory, Bundesliga new boys Mainz trekked the row with a victory over Bochum by 3-2. Hoffenheim crushed Moenchengladbach after a sensational comeback 4-2. Hannover and Dortmund split points after 1-1.

Thanks to the scoring of striker Sebastian Freis at the 25th minute and of midfielder Wilfried Sanou 89 minute, Cologne earned their first victory this season and left the bottom of Bundesliga table. Both goals resulted from blatant failures by Stuttgarts defense.