Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal admitted that luck played a part for their 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.

The win lifted Bayern up to third place, their highest position in the Bundesliga this season, and puts them in confident mood for Tuesday's decisive Champions League clash against Juventus, but Van Gaal still sees plenty of room for improvement.

"We are playing like we did before with the only difference that now we are scoring goals," he admitted.

"I am happy, but it was hard work and the luckier team won tonight.

"Gladbach were the better team in the first half and they created plenty of chances. Jorg Butt played excellently."

Bayern's winner came from a direct free-kick scored by young defender Holger Badstuber in the 75th minute.

On the day the draw for the World Cup was made, the 20-year-old did his own chances of being part of the Germany squad no harm with his first goal in professional football.

"I take corners and free-kicks in training and today it worked out," he said afterwards. "I just thought I would give it a go. The goalkeeper was stood quite central.

"It was fantastic to score such a goal, and then for it to be the winning goal.

"Of course I would love to play at a World Cup and the earlier the better."

Badstuber has been an ever-present under Van Gaal this season at the heart of the defence and, like team-mate Thomas Muller, is catching the eye in his first season as a professional footballer.