Bayern Munich surged seven points clear in the Bundesliga after Luca Toni and Franck Ribery combined to earn a 2-0 home win over Karlsruhe while Werder Bremen were thumped 6-3 at VfB Stuttgart.

Karlsruhe held firm at the Allianz Arena until Toni squeezed in a shot four minutes before halftime. Ribery made the game safe with a virtuoso goal 20 minutes into the second half.

Mario Gomez netted a hat-trick for Stuttgart to see the champions to a memorable victory at home to Werder who had briefly led through Hugo Almeida but ended up well beaten and a man short, Per Mertesacker being sent off late in the game.

After 23 matches Bayern lead on 50 points followed by Werder on 43.