Bayern Munich restored their 19-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a thumping 4-0 win away to Hannover on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts started brightly but Bayern were in a clinical mood as Thomas Muller headed in mid-way through the half before Thiago Alcantara added a second 10 minutes later.
Bayern were able to pick their moments in the second half, with Muller adding his second before Mario Mandzukic headed in to wrap up a resounding win.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Hello and thanks for joining me again. Not much time before kickoff here, so let's take a look at the teams quickly!
HANNOVER XI: Zieler; Rajtoral, Marcelo, Schulz, Pocognoli; Schmiedebach, Stindl, Huszti, Bittencourt; Rudnevs, Diouf
BAYERN XI: Starke; Rafinha, Boateng, Martinez, Alaba; Lahm; Muller, Thiago, Schweinsteiger, Gotze; Mandzukic
KICKOFF: So, no Manuel Neuer for Bayern in the lineup. Also there's a first start for Bastian Schweinsteiger for three months. Afew changes but what a strong side that still is.
Fantastic atmosphere inside the HDI-Arena today. The fans believe, but it's a lot easier to believe than be realistic about their chances. Bayern should win this but you do never know, even if their last defeat was in November 2012 in the league. Bright start from the hosts who are playing with a good tempo.
First sight of goal there for Bayern as Muller plays inside to Gotze who crossed for Mandzukic but it was well cleared by Marcelo from the edge of his own six-yard box. Plenty of possession from the visitors so far, as you might expect.
Diouf is really good with that type of header, dropping off his man and flicking it on. This time it doesn't set up a chance but that's the big threat that the Bayern defence have to deal with. The hosts are tackling well and giving Bayern no respect so far.
Martinez is really harshly adjudged to have fouled Bittencourt. It wasn't two-footed, just not very pleasing on the eye. He won the ball, but the referee didn't like it.
Bayern haven't been their dominant selves so far and that's a lot down to Hannover's pressure here. Boateng does really well on the left, beating his man before quite selfishly shooting from an angle. Comfortable stop for Ron-Robert Zieler, who holds on.
A little too strong in the tackle there by Szabolcs Huszti, who is all over the back of Schweinsteiger. Free kick here around 30 yards out and very central.
Alaba's effort is powerful and it might have threatened Zieler, but hit the head of Diouf in the wall and goes out for a corner.
Rafinha has been very attacking so far, but his crossing hasn't been very good yet. There's a bit of a scrap going on between Mandzukic and Marcelo for something off the ball. Not sure what happened there, but play continues. Then Starke is almost in trouble as he comes for the ball but let Rudnevs around him, but the shot was blocked in the end. Risky by the reserve keeper that!
Hannover have been very threatening indeed in attack. Diouf takes the ball ahead into the box and cuts back to Pocognoli, but the shot is blocked away for a corner. Hannover are certainly on top here.
Bayern just don't seem as patient on the ball as they usually do. They're being rushed in possession and as such have attempted a number of deep crosses, but have yet to really test Zieler.
BOOKING: Diouf gets himself carded for arguing with the referee. He wouldn't be quiet and has been punished for it.
BOOKING: Now Rafinha gets carded for blocking Bittencourt as he tried to get past him. I'm not sure the Hannover man would have got to the ball so that's a bit of a silly foul well away from danger.
GOAL! Hannover 0-1 Bayern (Thomas Muller)
That is what Bayern can do! Schweinsteiger plays an exquisite ball to Rafinha down the right, who whips in a cross for Muller head in low. It looked so simple but the movement was brilliant.
BOOKING: Huszti goes into the book for getting too close to Schweinsteiger and clipping him from behind. This could be dangerous, but Martinez guides his header wide when he probably should have scored.
Bayern look much more comfortable now with their lead. They're back passing and probing patiently. Thiago tries to get through on the right but is just offside from the ball over the top.
SAVE! Good stop from Zieler there. Mandzukic tries to find the bottom corner and with Muller lurking for the rebound the home keeper pushes it round the post.
SAVE! That's even better! Thiago first controls a ball over his shoulder absolutely brilliantly before crossing to Mandzukic who goes to the opposite corner this time. It's the same result, though, as Zieler keeps it out.
GOAL! Hannover 0-2 Bayern (Thiago)
That's another fine goal, and Schweinsteiger again is heavily involved. He clips the ball over the defence for the onrushing Thiago to control and fire in with his left foot. This is a massive ask for Hannover now.
HANNOVER SUB: Early change for the hosts here as Bittencourt makes way for Edgar Prib. I'm not sure he was injured, but he certainly does not look happy to come off.
Hannover have not caused much of a threat since the opening goal. It came at a bad time for them as they were just about on top of the game at the time. Bayern will be able to control the pace of this now.
Diouf is down after a challenge with Rafinha, but there didn't look anything in it to me. Rafinha has been one of the better players so far, he's been really good in attack and solid at the back.
Surprisingly a Bayern passing move breaks down. It was good football until Lahm overhit a pass to Mandzukic.
HALF TIME: Hannover 0-2 Bayern
In what was looking like a very tricky encounter for Bayern they have produced a thoroughly efficient half to go in 2-0 at the break. They rode some pressure, but do deserve to be winning.
Hannover have troubled Bayern on a couple of occasions. They could have scored when Rudnevs almost rounded Starke but the keeper did really well to recover and make the save.
Hannover have already made one change with Bittencourt making way for Prib. I wouldn't expect to see any from Bayern, but Tayfun Korkut might want to shuffle his pack a bit if they're to get themselves back in this.
Schweinsteiger, back in the XI, has been far and away the best player so far. I'd pick him above any midfielder in the world and his passing today has shown exactly why. He set up both chances with an assist for the second.
The Hannover players have been out for a while, and here come Bayern to join them. We'll be back underway very soon.
Bayern kick us back off then. Has Korkut been able to fire up his side enough for them to get a point? It looks unlikely, but...
Thiago involved plenty early on here. His touch is so good and never lets the ball run away from him. It's even to begin with this half, though.
What a waste there from Rudnevs! Martinez was caught in possession and from the edge of the box with no-one around him Rudnevs toe-pokes it high and wide. You simply have to do better with chances against Bayern.
Apart from that Rudnevs effort there hasn't been a lot of attacking play in this half. That will suit Bayern, of course. Toni Kroos and Arjen Robben have been warming up - not bad options, them.
Unselfish from Alaba, but he might well have shot there. He instead tries to cut across but the ball is cut out and Hannover counter. Nothing comes from it for the hosts, though.
SAVE! Good stop there from Starke! Huszti crosses to Diouf, who heads powerfully from about 10 yards but the keeper is down well to push wide for a corner.
Suddenly there are chances galore for Hannover. Starke made a good save just then but almost gets himself under pressure by coming out to meet Huszti. The Hungarian is forced wide, though, and cannot beat the keeper who saves with his legs.
GOAL! Hannover 0-3 Bayern (THomas Muller)
Hannover are coming back into the game, but all of a sudden they're out of it! Alaba fires a low ball in to Mandzukic, who plays a first-time back-heel into Muller to finish low. That's superb football.
What a teammate Muller must be to have. He's unselfish, works incredibly hard and always goes straight over to the assist-maker. Oh, and he's not bad with the ball either! Hannover still going for it and Prib's shot is deflected agonisingly wide off his own man Huszti.
BAYERN SUB: At least Muller's off, must think Hannover... But no, it's Robben on for him. Poor things.
CLOSE! Good effort there from Mandzukic, who tries to volley goalwards but doesn't get enough on it and it goes wide of the far post.
GOAL! Hannover 0-4 Bayern (Mario Mandzukic)
That is a fantastic header from Mandzukic. The cross comes to the far post where he gets up above two defenders and the goalkeeper to head low and in. Another change... time for none other than Kroos who is on for Gotze.
HANNOVER SUB: Is it damage limitation now for Hannover? Leon Andreasen comes on for Stindl.
To their credit Hannover are still pressing high and playing with energy. It is a lost cause, but the scoreline does flatter Bayern slightly. They deserve to be winning, sure, but perhaps not 4-0.
BAYERN SUB: Huge ovation from the away end as Schweinsteiger makes way. He has been absolutely fantastic and deserves his rest. Claudio Pizarro on for him, interestingly.
That's a really poor first touch from Diouf, who was played in but could only push it ahead for Starke to get in and clear. A better touch and that was a real chance for Hannover.
Pocognoli is breathing really heavily and that's understandable, he's been brilliant. Another change for Hannover as Diouf comes off for Artur Sobiech. Diouf faded quite a bit as the game has gone on.
Robben has been tracked very closely since he came on and hasn't had an impact yet. Andreasen spreads right to Rajtoral, whose cross is eventually put behind for a corner.
SAVE! Starke has been excellent with his shot-stopping today. Schulz strikes from about 25 yards but the Bayern stopper is there to push it wide for a corner.
The fact that Hannover have not given up the ghost means that they deserve a lot of credit here. The timing of Bayern's goals has been really hard on the hosts, but they have remained in the game - if not in terms of the scoreline - throughout.
Bayern do not want to concede here even though the game is long over. The hallmark of champions that is, for a team to continue to give 100% throughout the game.
I think Hannover will end this without a goal, despite their being on top for the last 10 minutes. I don't expect a lot of time to be added on - it often happens in Germany that a referee puts a side out of their misery.
FULL TIME: Hannover 0-4 Bayern Munich
Bayern are dangerously good. Hannover had lost just once here in 10 games before Bayern came to down but they have been outclassed to the tune of 4-0. Bayern restore their 19-point lead and the table is almost embarrassing for them!
Thanks for joining me this evening. That's all we have time for. However, you're welcome to stick around on site for reaction and news from all today's football and more. Goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
