Bayern München took the honours in the first of the table-topping encounters going into the winter break, beating Bayer Leverkusen in their own backyard.
Forward duo Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose bagged a goal apiece in the 2-0 (0-0) win as the defending champions extended their unbeaten run to 13 games in all competitions. The result moves them up to second on 31 points, three behind leaders Hoffenheim, who visit the Allianz Arena next week. Leverkusen drop to fourth, still on 28 points.
Leverkusen start stronger
It was a disappointing performance overall from Leverkusen, who had made the better start of the two sides. In the 13th minute Patrick Helmes fired narrowly over and three minutes later Henrique headed against the bar. Four minutes after that Helmes again popped up in front of the Bayern goal, but this time his shot went just wide of the post.
Midway through the first half Bayern slowly began to asert control over the proceedings. Bastian Schweinsteiger pulled two good saves out of Bayer keeper Rene Adler (21., 45.) and drilled another effort narrowly wide on the half-hour mark.
Bayern turn the screws
There was more of the same in the second half as Bayern continued to press for the opener, with that man Schweinsteiger sseing a header come off the bar just four minutes in.
Bayern finally broke the deadlock a minute shy of the hour mark, Toni rising to head home a cross from Ze Roberto. Franck Ribery almost made it two soon after, only to be foiled by Adler. In the 82nd minute, Ribery returned to the role of provider, setting up Klose for his sixth goal of the season.
That sealed Bayern's eighth successive victory over Leverkusen and left the champions with the number one spot in the table firmly in their sights.
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