Robert Lewandowski and Philipp Lahm netted on Saturday as Bayern Munich laboured to a 2-0 win against Ingolstadt to get back on track after last week's shock Bundesliga defeat.
After losing in the league for the first time this season with a 3-1 humbling in Monchengladbach last Saturday, Bayern produced a subdued performance at Munich's Allianz Arena before pulling away with two second-half goals.
“It was a great performance from Ingolstadt, they really put us under pressure,” said Lahm, who admitted his side lacked energy after their 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday in the Champions League.
“It was the first time in ages that we didn't come out and play with lots of energy right from the start. We need to learn from that and remember that we also need to have that energy. Otherwise it becomes difficult, particularly when the opponent plays very well, as with today”.
Bayern could have been 2-0 down at the break as Ingolstadt, who are in their first season in Germany's top flight, wasted clear chances.
Australia forward Mathew Leckie set up Stefan Lex early in the second-half, but the latter fired straight at Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Lewandowski claimed his 15th league goal of the season when he pounced on Jerome Boateng's long pass, rounded Ingolstadt's goalkeeper Ramazan Ozcan and slotted home from a tight angle on 65 minutes.
Lahm doubled Bayern's lead with 15 minutes left when he claimed his first goal in the famous red shirt since October 2014 as he hit the far left-hand corner.
With second-placed Borussia Dortmund playing at Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday, Bayern took their chance to go eight points clear for at least 24 hours.
Hertha move up to third
With Monchengladbach at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday night, Hertha Berlin took the chance to leap-frog Gladbach into third when they romped to a 4-0 win at Darmstadt.
Bosnia striker Vedad Ibisevic scored on 12 minutes, after Salomon Kalou played a part in the build up, before defender Marvin Plattenhardt curled in a free-kick midway through the first-half to make it 2-0 at the break.
Ibisevic netted his second on 50 minutes before Kalou picked up his eighth goal of the season in the final quarter of an hour as Hertha enjoyed their biggest win of the season.
Fresh from Tuesday's Champions League win over Manchester United, which confirmed their place in the last 16 as group winners, Wolfsburg stayed fifth as they laboured to a 1-1 draw at home to Hamburg.
Germany squad member Nicolai Mueller gave the visitors the lead on 21 minutes when he tapped home the rebound after Pierre-Michel Lasogga went one-on-one with Wolfsburg's goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.
Wolves equalised when Maximilian Arnold spared their blushes with a late strike.
Werder Bremen stayed within three points of the relegation places after a 1-1 draw at home to Cologne as Nigeria striker Anthony Ujah had a first-half penalty saved for the hosts.
Hoffenheim enjoyed their first win since September when Jonathan Schmid's first-half goal sealed their 1-0 win at home to Hanover 96 which lifted them to 17th.
Stuttgart dropped to bottom again after their goalless draw at home to Mainz on Friday.
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