Franck Ribery came off the bench to inspire Bayern Munich to a come from behind victory over arch rivals Borussia Dortmund. Trailing by a first half Marco Reus header and with twenty minutes remaining, Pep Guardiola replaced Mario Gotze with the Frenchman and he was involved in both goals.
A minute after coming on he tried to play in Arjen Robben but the ball broke to Robert Lewandowski and he guided the ball home from the edge of the area, and with six minutes remaining he was pulled back by Neven Subotic leaving Robben to dispatch the penalty.
It was no more than Bayern deserved as they squandered a plethora of chances in the first half before being hit on the counter. Marco Reus heading home a superb cross from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Dortmund goalkeeper, Roman Weidenfeller, was the star of the first half after he made stunning saves to deny first Arjen Robben, twice, and Thomas Muller.
This was a huge game on paper but not by the league standings, as 14 points and 15 places separated these two powerhouses of German football. The hosts started on the front foot and a good move down the right saw Philip Lahm back heel to Robben, he cut back onto his left foot and saw his powerful drive tipped onto the bar and over by Weidenfeller.
Muller then squandered two chances before Robben again was denied by the Dortmund keeper, pushing aside his fierce drive from the right side.
After soaking up all this pressure, the visitors hit Bayern on the counter attack and surprisingly took the lead. A strong run down the right from Aubameyang resulted in a pin point cross which Reus headed into the corner past Manuel Neuer's dive.
Jurgen Klopp's game plan was working to perfection and although Robben and Muller missed further chances they went in at the break one goal to the good.
The second half continued where the first left off as Bayern continued to fluff their lines. A superb ball from Mehdi Benatia from the right found Lewandowski all alone but Weidenfeller again managed to make the save diverting the ball around the post for a corner.
Moments later Benatia headed over from a corner and from another corner he headed wide of the post when he should of at least hit the target.
Guardiola made his change bringing on Ribery for Gotze and his impact was immediate. Driving forward he tried to find Robben with a slide rule pass but the ball broke to Lewandowski on the edge of the area and he converted past the helpless keeper.
The hosts now had their tails up and were awarded a fortunate penalty with five minutes remaining. RIbery got in front of Subotic and was pulled back by the Serbian, the ref pointed to the spot.
Robben made no mistake stroking the ball to the left of Weidenfeller. Dortmund rarely threatened in the closing stages and find themselves in 16th position in the table. Munich increased their lead at the top of the table to four points.
