Hannover 96 travelled to the Allianz-Arena in search of a point but knowing that it was a tough task. Bayern Munich were dominant, and any hopes of the visitors returning home with something were quashed very early on. Duelling braces from Robert Lewandowski and Arjen Robben made it a miserable day for the visitors.
Bayern Munich vs. Hannover 96: Final score 4-0, Bayern stay top
Bayern Munich were far too strong for Hannover 96, winning 4-0 and stretching their lead atop the Bundesliga to four points.
Lennart Preiss
The score remained level for just six minutes. A perfectly timed run from Robert Lewantowski gave him five yards of space to pull down a 40 yard diagonal from Rafinha just outside the area. After using his superb control to chest the pass down, he slotted it past Hannover goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler. The Polish striker’s goal was the fastest of the season so far for the Bavarians.
Arjen Robben doubled the advantage 13 minutes in. Even if you didn’t see the goal, you know how Robben scored. Cutting in from the right flank, the Dutchman’s curling shot beat Zieler to the far post.
Hannover didn’t have too much of the ball, with Pep Guardiola’s men enjoying just under 70 percent possession.
In the 38th minute, Lewandowski got on the end of another ball played over the top. Again, he showed excellent control, this time bringing the ball down mid-stride with his right boot. He dribbled to the keeper’s left, and beat Zieler to his near post from five yards out.
Hannover had one chance to score, just about a minute before halftime. Artur Sobeich was played in on goal, but his shot from two yards inside the area was saved brilliantly by Manuel Neuer, with his first meaningful touch of the match. Hannover couldn't do anything with the resulting corner.
Trying to change the fate of the game, Hannover boss Tayfun Korkut elected to make two changes before the second period of play began. Christian Pander and Leandro Bittencourt came on for Miiko Albornoz and Joselu respectively.
Bayern were perfectly happy to keep the ball for the second half. They didn’t need to build on the lead, but eventually converted one from a multitude of chances.
Twenty minutes from time, a sliding block from Marcelo kept the margin at three goals. Robben cut inside from the wing and beat two defenders before having a go, but the Hannover defender got in the way. Robben’s dribbling had lured Zieler off his line, and it would have been a goal if not for the block.
Robben would get his second of the match ten minutes later, with a sweeping effort that Zieler was unable to save. Hannover’s back five couldn’t handle him all day.
Neuer was forced into making his second save of the match with nine minutes left, again from a Sobiech effort. The striker headed powerfully from a cross that came in from the right wing, but the shot went straight at the keeper. He almost had a third, but Zieler saved his free kick in the 87th minute.
Despite allowing four goals, Zieler was Hannover’s best player. Bayern recorded 23 shots, 10 which came from Robben.
Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer; Rafinha, Mehdi Benatia, Dante, Juan Bernat; Philipp Lahm (Sebastian Rode 75'), Xabi Alonso (Gianluca Gaudino 82'), David Alaba; Arjen Robben, Robert Lewandowski, Xherdan Shaqiri (Claudio Pizarro 60').
Goals: Lewandowski (6’, 38’), Robben (13’, 79’)
Hannover 96: Ron-Robert Zieler; Hiroki Sakai, Marcelo, Felipe, Christian Schulz, Miiko Albornoz (Christian Pander 45'); Manuel Schmiedebach, Ceyhun Gülselam, Hiroshi Kiyotake (Jan Schlaudraff 72'); Artur Sobiech, Joselu (Leonardo Bittencourt 45').
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