With a series of company bosses held hostage in their offices in France recently, it would be easy for the casual observer to come to the conclusion that the relationship between the French worker and boss had become somewhat strained.

Monsieur Ribéry, however, provides a refreshing antidote in the current calamitous economic climate. Not only is he a hard worker who happens to be excellent at his job – the little Frenchman even tries his very best to save his bosses’ jobs.

Following his two goals for France to secure two 1-0 World Cup Qualifier wins and his coach’s job, Franck Ribéry set about providing some job security for his beleaguered club coach Jürgen Klinsmann.

It was a much-needed win. Following a 5-1 route by Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich had been battered more heavily than a Scottish Mars Bar in their mid-week match. The only positive thing about the embarrassing 4-0 scoreline against Barcelona was that it could have been much worse. Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge looked thoroughly shocked as he said his proud club’s pride had taking a kicking. Former Bayern coach Udo Latteck even shed a few tears in the stands.

There was no doubt in anyone’s minds that anything but a win would mean “Au revoir Klinsmann”. But luckily for Bayern and their coach, Eintracht Frankfurt were coming to town. 12th in the league and not exactly famed for their away form, on paper they were the perfect team for rehabilitation.

Ribéry was in no mood to take hostages: In the third minute he fired a 25-meter shot into the top right hand corner and fifteen minutes later he spotted Luca Toni’s run and floated in a perfectly weighted freekick for him to score. Lucio and Schweinsteiger then went on to add their names to the scoresheet and under-fire Klinsmann had his last-gasp reprieve.

Wolfsburg go three points clear

Meanwhile Wolfsburg managed to consolidate their position as new title favorites by beating Borussia Mönchengladbach. Bosnian International Zvjezdan Misimovic delivered his 17th assist of the season to provide his national team colleague Edin Dzeko with his 16th  goal of the season. But Wolfsburg were sloppy and failed to take one of their numerous chances. Gladbach got back in the game courtesy of a Dante header in the 79th minute. But the Wolves showed they have the mettle to go the distance this season by restoring the lead five minutes later, when Sascha Riether capitalized on some confusion in the box to poke the ball home.

With the knowledge of the Wolfsburg win, Hamburg were under pressure to land three points away in Stuttgart on Sunday, so as to keep pace with the VW-backed team at the top of the table. Unfortunately for Hamburg, the trip down south to Swabia was much like a trip to a German discounter. A long trip, a frustrating experience and – with loyalty cards unheard of – no points either.

And yet it had in fact looked as if Hamburg would be able to escape with at least a point, as both teams managed to miss several chances and tested the woodwork and the keepers in a high-tempo, entertaining match. But with the match heading towards a 0-0 draw, Mario Gomez did what he can’t do for Germany.

Thomas Hitzelsperger fired in a shot that Hamburg keeper Frank Rost could only parry into the path of Stuttgart’s no.33. He wasted no time and scored a 92nd minute winner. VfB Stuttgart are now in fifth position, are six points off the top, and could potentially still have a say in the title race, not least because they still play Wolfsburg and Bayern.

That result meant that Wolfsburg are now three points clear at the top. Yet their coach Felix Magath provided a warning, “The pressure as league leaders is now completely different. You’ve only arrived at the top if you are also there after the 34th match day.”

For more top quality Bundesliga coverage see the Guardian’s Bundesliga column here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/raphaelhonigstein

To read Bundesliga coverage in German see:

http://blog.magazine-deutschland.de

Results:

Borussia Mönchengladbach – VfL Wolfsburg 1:2
Bayern München – Eintracht Frankfurt 4:0
Hannover 96 – Hertha BSC Berlin 2:0
FC Schalke 04 – Karlsruher SC 2:0
1899 Hoffenheim – VfL Bochum 0:3
Energie Cottbus – Arminia Bielefeld 2:1
Borussia Dortmund – 1. FC Köln 3:1
Bayer Leverkusen – Werder Bremen 1:1
VfB Stuttgart – Hamburger SV 1:0

Table

1 VfL Wolfsburg 54 P
2 Bayern München 51 P
3 Hamburger SV 51 P
4 Hertha BSC Berlin 49 P
5 VfB Stuttgart 48 P
6 1899 Hoffenheim 44 P
7 FC Schalke 04 43 P
8 Borussia Dortmund 43 P
9 Bayer Leverkusen 42 P
10 Werder Bremen 36 P
11 1. FC Köln 32 P
12 Eintracht Frankfurt 29 P
13 Hannover 96 29 P
14 VfL Bochum 28 P
15 Arminia Bielefeld 24 P
16 Borussia Mönchengladbach 23 P
17 Energie Cottbus 23 P
18 Karlsruher SC 18 P