Bayern Munich moved nine points clear in the Bundesliga with seven games to play after showing character to match their quality in a 3-1 win at home to VfL Bochum.

Bayern, heading for a 21st German league title, went behind to a long-range shot from Mimoun Azaouagh in the fourth minute and they were in deeper trouble when Mark van Bommel was red-carded in the 27th minute.

The Bavarians began the fightback with a Lucio header four minutes later before a second-half Franck Ribery penalty and a late strike from Christian Lell saw them home.

"We showed unbelievable spirit to turn the game around," coach Ottmar Hitzfeld told Premiere TV.

Bayern have 57 points from 27 games, followed by Schalke 04 on 48 after their 1-0 win at home to Hansa Rostock on Saturday.

Hamburg, beaten 1-0 at resurgent Stuttgart on Saturday, drop to third with 47, ahead of Werder Bremen on goal difference after their 2-1 win at Hertha Berlin.

Stuttgart, last season's champions, climb to fifth on 45 points, with Bayern Leverkusen sixth on 44 after they suffered a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.

Bayern needed to atone for a careless display in Thursday's 1-1 draw with Getafe in the UEFA Cup, a result that leaves them with a lot to do to clinch a place in the semi-finals.

They were rocked when Azaouagh's right-foot shot from distance flew past Oliver Kahn and into the top left-hand corner.

Two needless bookings for Van Bommel left them in deeper trouble but they were back in the game when Lucio headed in a Bastian Schweinsteiger free kick for his first league goal of the season.

Bayern got a deserved second when Ribery converted a penalty for handball with 16 minutes to go. Lell finished off a highly satisfying afternoon with a neat finish after Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni had combined to put him through.

"I've been in this situation many times before and little bits of luck, good or bad, can decide your season," said goalkeeper Kahn. "We weren't doing so well at a goal down and with Van Bommel off but we gave it everything to come back."

Reuters