Bayern Munich headed into the DFB Pokal second-round clash against Hannover at the Allianz Arena as red-hot favourites.
Pep Guardiola's side have been in imperious form so far this season, and they continued that on Wednesday with a 4-1 win.
Thomas Muller scored twice for the Bavarian giants, while Franck Ribery was also on target.
Read how the game unfolded with Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole’s minute-by-minute live text commentary of the DFB Pokal clash between Bayern Munich and Hannover.
Pep Guardiola’s Bayern are the obvious favourites tonight. Not only do they have perhaps the most complete team in Europe, but they are in excellent form as well. The Bavarian giants have won all but one of their competitive matches this campaign – that one that they failed to win ended in a draw.
Hannover, though, are not in bad shape either. Mirko Slomka’s side are currently fourth in the Bundesliga standings, having picked up 12 points from their six matches so far. They are not expected to keep up their momentum, but that should not convince one to dismiss them tonight.
Bayern and Hannover have already met each other this season. That was in the Bundesliga on September 14. The defending German and European champions won on that occasion, but it was not as convincing as they would have liked it to be.
Both of those goals for Bayern at the Allianz Arena came in the second half. Mario Mandzukic broke the deadlock in the 51st minute and Franck Ribery wrapped up the scoring 15 minutes later. Will it be the same story tonight?
The teamsheet is out and I will type the lineups momentarily...
BAYERN MUNICH XI: Neuer; Rafinha, Dante, Van Buyten, Contento; Shaqiri, Lahm Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Muller; Pizarro
HANNOVER XI: Zieler; Sakai, Sane, Pocognoli, Marcelo; Andreasen, Prib, Stindl, Bittemcourt; Ya Konan
So Bayern name quite a strong team tonight. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm both start in midfield tonight, although I am assuming that the latter will be deployed in an anchorman’s role. Claudio Pizarro will be the centre-forward for the hosts. Mario Mandzukic, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery all are on the bench.
Meanwhile, for Hannover, Didier Ya Konan will lead the attack, with Szabolcs Huszti and Lars Stindl starting in midfielder. Leonardo Bittencourt also makes his appearance for the visitors.
Remember, Bayern Munich are the defending champions of the DFB Pokal. Last season they won the competition as part of their treble triumph, beating Stuttgart 3-1 in the final. Once again, the Bavarian giants will be looking to win the tournament.
Kickoff at the Allianz Arena is less than 10 minutes away. A few more games will also kick off at the same time in the DFB Pokal: Stuttgart are away at Freiburg, Schalke play SV Darmstadt 98 and Union Berlin take on VfL Osnabruck.
Kickoff at the Allianz Arena is just minutes away as the players are getting ready to come out onto the pitch.
The two sets of players are on the pitch now and the pre-match formalities are taking place. The match will kick off in a matter of moments. The atmosphere at the Allianz Arena is electric tonight! As always.
KICKOFF Visitors Hannover get the match underway the Allianz Arena, this the second-round clash in the DFB Pokal.
There has been a bright start to the match at the Allianz Arena. Bayern, playing in white, launch an attack with Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Rafinha and Shaqirir all getting involved. However, the visitors, playing in green, go for a counter-attack. End-to-end stuff in the opening minutes of the match.
Both sides are going at each other still, having started the contest very energetically indeed. I think Bayern are edging in terms of possession, but Hannover are certainly not letting their opponent retain the ball for too long. Xherdan Shaqiri has seen quite a bit of the ball so far this evening.
Schweinsteiger gets his shot away but it is not exactly a powerful one and does not trouble Ron-Robert Zieler at all.
There are around 65,000 spectators at the Allianz Arena tonight and the noise is deafening. It is now quite at full capacity tonight but you just wouldn’t know.
The match has been very bright so far but it has yet to fully burst into life. The pace has been good and so has the movement on the ball, so we can expect this contest to pick up momentum as it progresses.
Diego Contento floats in a cross into the Hannover penalty area but cannot discern any of his teammates. At the other Hannover move with intent but fail to really test the Bayern defence. End-to-end stuff at the Allianz Arena but without much crispy passes.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-0 Hannover (Thomas Muller)
Bayern take the lead and it comes under fortuitous circumstances indeed. A cross is drilled in from the left by Xherdan Shaqiri and it hits Thomas Muller and goes in. Muller celebrates, but it initially appeared that he was not very convincing in turning it home.
Hannover go on the attack immediately looking to restore parity, but Bayern fendoff the danger. The match has picked up more intensity now that Bayern have got their goal.
We have played the first half of the first half and it is Bayern 1-0 Hannover. On the balance of play, perhaps this is a just scoreline but by no means is the match over yet.
YELLOW CARD Didier Ya Konan is shown the yellow card for his challenge on Contento. Meanwhile, Bastian Schweinsteiger has changed his boots.
CHANCE! Wonderful save from Ron-Robert Zieler as he keeps out Toni Kroos’s effort from just outside the area.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 2-0 Hannover (Claudio Pizarro)
Bayern go 2-0 up as Claudio Pizarro scores for the home side. A quick attacking move from Bayern sees Dante collect the ball on the left. He carves out a cross in and the Peruvian striker makes no mistake in turning it home from close range.
Hannover's confidence has been severely dented by that second goal and you get the feeling that they may now collapse completely. Bayern have taken full control of the contest now.
Half an hour gone and it is 2-0 to Bayern against Hannover. The home side are in full control at the moment and they may be pardoned to think that they have booked their place in the third round of the DFB Pokal.
Oh, a cross from the left for Hannover almost gets the Bayern defence! The danger is eventually averted but that is a sign that the hosts must not take things lightly.
Oh, a cross from the left for Hannover almost gets the Bayern defence! The danger is eventually averted but that is a sign that the hosts must not take things lightly.
CHANCE! Another chance for Hannover, or maybe a half-chance. The visitors create a good attacking move and a cross is floated in that Didier Ya Konan heads towards goal, but only into the arms of Manuel Neuer.
Ten minutes to half time and you get a feeling that this match may as well be over. Bayern are leading Hannover 2-1 and are on course to reaching the third round of the DFB Pokal.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 2-1 Hannover (Didier Ya Konan)
Hannover are back in the match and how! It is Didier Ya Konan who gets the goal and in style. A cross is floated in from the left by Sebastien Pocognoli and the striker slots it home first-time giving Manuel Neuer no chance whatsoever. Game on!
Hannover have got themselves back into the match and are really looking up for it. Five minutes to half time and maybe they could even get themselves an equaliser!
It is Hannover who are hogging possession now and are putting pressure on Bayern. Leonardo Bittencourt puts in a shot from just outside the Bayern penalty box but it does not trouble Manuel Neuer at all. Very positive from the visitors.
HALF TIME: Bayern Munich 2-1 Hannover
The referee blows the half-time whistle and sends the two sets of players back to their respective dressing rooms. It is Bayern who are in control at the moment, but only just.
Bayern surged ahead in the 16th minute through Thomas Muller, who diverted Xherdan Shaqiri’s cross from the left. It became 2-0 to the hosts 10 minutes later, this time Claudio Pizarro the scorer. However, Hannover came back into the contest towards the end of the first half, thanks to Didier Ya Konan’s wonderful first-time shot from close range.
After Bayern scored their second goal, it did look like that they were going to ease home to a comfortable win, but credit to Hannover for not giving up and going into the halfp-time interval with the chance of winning this DFB Pokal second-round tie.
The second half will begin shortly. Guardiola will certainly ask his players to try to score their second goal of the evening and wrap up the match. I don’t think that he will want this match to go into extra time.
The two sets of players are now coming onto the pitch. Bayern lead Hannover 1-0.
SUBSTITUTION Hannover are going to make a change at the start of the second session. Jan Schlaudraff comes on for Edgar Prib.
KICKOFF Bayern get the second half underway. They lead Hannover 2-1 from the first half.
Bayern in attacking mode right from the start as Rafinha floats in a cross that is eventually cleared away by the Hannover defence.
Free kick to the Bavarian giants near the far left touchline as Shaqiri is brought down by Hiroki Sakai. However, it does not yield anything. Hannover then burst forward and Szabolcs Huszti blasts a shot from outside the Bayern box but fails to get it on target. Crowd still in full voice.
CHANCE! Thomas Muller disappointingly brings to an end what was a great attacking move from Bayern. The Bavarian giants play patient passing football and the Germany international is eventually released just outside the Hannover penalty box, but his final shot is nowhere near target. Very disappointing.
CHANCE! Now Shaqiri goes close for Bayern as he takes an attempt on the Hannover goal from outside the box after being set up by Rafinha, but Ron-Robert Zieler makes a good save.
Meanwhile, Arjen Robben is warming on the sidelines for Bayern. He could come on soon, I think.
Ouch! Leon Andreasen is in pain and on the ground asking for medical assistance after landing badly on the ground following his challenge with Daniel van Buyen inside the Bayern penalty box. He seems to have hurt his right elbow.
Both sides are still showing loads of intent on scoring and this really has been a very competitive match. Bayern have been more boisterous but Hannover are not letting the German champions have their way at the Allianz Arena.
CHANCE! Free kick to Bayern around 35 yards from the Hannover goal, as Schweinsteiger is brought down by Huszti. Xherdan Shaqiri floats it in and Daniel van Buyten gets it head to it, but it goes wide.
SUBSTITUTION Bayern make a change now. Claudio Pizarro comes off for Franck Ribery.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 3-1 Hannover (Thomas Muller)
Thomas Muller makes it 3-1 to Bayern and virtually wraps up the victory now. Xherdan Shaqiri floats in another free kick from 35 yards out and Muller just flicks it into the net with a deft touch from his right foot. Wonderful, wonderful technique. He is on a hat-trick now!
CHANCE! Muller misses a glorious chance to complete his hat-trick in this DFB Pokal second-round clash. Ribery finds him with a good pass just outside the goal after a good attacking move, but the German international drags his effort wide.
A half-chance for the visitors as Didier Ya Konan tries to get the better of Neuer from outside the box after latching onto a pass from Bittencourt, but he fails to get his effort on target.
SUBSTITUTION Bayern coach Pep Guardiola makes his second change of the evening. David Alaba replaces Bastian Schweinsteiger, who appears to be in a little bit of pain as he comes off.
SUBSTITUTION Manuel Schmiedebach replaces Leon Andreasen for Hannover.
Just under 20 minutes remain in this DFB Pokal second-round clash between Bayern Munich and Hannover. The hosts appear to have this contest done and dusted as the visitors are running out of steam.
Bayern have been superb all evening and their passing has been excellent. And they have also shown themselves to be strong when they need be. This is a very, very complete team in all aspects. And that’s scary for opponents when you realise that the likes of Robben and Ribery started on the bench!
SUBSTITUTION Hannover make their third and final change of the evening. Deniz Kadah comes on for Leonardo Bittencourt.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 4-1 Hannover (Franck Ribery)
Ribery makes it 4-1 with ease as Bayern head towards the final 10 minutes of the contest like strolling in the park. Muller takes an attempt on goal from outside the box in an effort to complete his hat-trick, Ron-Robert Zieler makes the save and Ribery is on hand to tuck in the rebound.
YELLOW CARD Ten minutes of normal time remain at the Allianz Arena. Bayern are 4-1 up against Hannnover. The only question that now remains is whether they will score their fifth goal of the evening. Meanwhile, Dante is shown the yellow card for his foul on Huszti.
Diego Contento is down injured at the moment as he seems to have pulled a hamstring while reaching a ball on the touchline.
SUBSTITUTION Guardiola does not want Contento to continue as he is receiving medial treatment. Jan Kirchhoff promptly comes on in his place.
Five minutes remain at the Allianz Arena. Bayern are controlling possession and make an attempt to score again, this time Philipp Lahm trying his luck from outside the box but in vain after yet another patient build-up play from the Bavarian giants.
Two minutes remain in the contest. It would be safe to say that Bayern are through to the third round of the DFB Pokal.
Wonderful challenge by Hiroki Sakai on Shaqiri just as the Swiss international was about to turn in Rafinha’s wonderfully floated cross from the right.
Two minutes of injury time have been awarded.
FULL TIME: Bayern Munich 4-1 Hannover
The referee blows the final whistle and brings the game to a close. Bayern Munich have defeated Hannover 4-1 at the Allianz Arena to progress to the third round of the DFB Pokal. It was a sumptuous display from the German and European champions, and they deserved the win.
Thomas Muller gave Bayern the lead in the 17th minute and Claudio Pizarro doubled their advantage 10 minutes later. Didier Ya Konan halved the deficit before the interval, but Muller restored the Bavarian giants’ two-goal cushion on 64 minutes. Franck Ribery ascertained the victory with his strike in the 78th minute.
Thank you very much for joining me for tonight’s match here on Sports Mole. Hope that you enjoyed our live coverage. Have a good night. It’s goodbye from me for now.
