A single goal from Jose Ernesto Sosa secured Bayern a 1-0 victory against relegation-threatened Karlsruher at home on Saturday, giving them their fourth successive win in all competitions.

The result puts the defending champions on 48 points, just one behind leaders Hertha Berlin, who lost at Stuttgart. The outlook for Karlsruhe seems increasingly bleak though, their fifth defeat in a row leaving them still adrift at the bottom on 17 points.

Bayern dominated proceedings from the off, due in no small part to KSC's reluctance or inability to get the ball forward for much of the match.

Bastian Schweinsteiger had the first genuine chance for the home side, his effort foiled by a combination of Karlsruhe keeper Markus Miller and defender Dino Drpic.

Soon after that Schweinsteiger went even closer, latching onto a sweet pass from Franck Ribery and lobbing Miller, only to see the ball rebound off the underside of the bar and back into play.

Ribery was once again the provider for the one that did count, dribbling along the edge of the box before releasing a perfectly-timed lay-off for Sosa to fire home with ease.

Having gone in front, Bayern perceptibly eased off the gas and were almost punished for it in the 57th minute when an Antonio da Silva corner caught the entire home defence napping, forcing keeper Michael Rensing into a desperate save with his feet.

Ribery was then booked for lashing out at Andreas Goerlitz and soon after that a Martin Demichelis header pulled a great save out of Miller.

Karlsruher exerted a bit more pressure towards the end, da Silva calling Rensing into action again from a free kick. In the dying seconds Ze Roberto was forced into a goalline clearance as the guests mounted a final offensive, but that was as close as Karlsruher would get.

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2009)