Reds breeze past outclassed Hannover

Irresistible FC Bayern beat Hannover 96 4-0 on Saturday. Joshua Kimmich opened the scoring in the second minute, David Alaba doubling the lead before the half-hour. Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski added gloss to the scoreline in the second half, sealing Bayern's biggest league victory so far this term.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Kimmich, Niklas Süle, Mats Hummels and Alaba in a back four. Thiago and Leon Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Gnabry, Thomas Müller and Kingsley Coman, with Lewandowski as lone striker. Renato Sanches, Rafinha and Sandro Wagner took over from Coman, Alaba and Müller with a quarter-hour to go.

Utter dominance

The 49,000 capacity crowd at the HDI Arena saw the German record champions dominate proceedings throughout. Barely one minute had been played when Kimmich scored the opener, blasting into the far corner of the net from the edge of the box. Hannover were bold in the first ten minutes, but Bayern were never in danger and soon imposed their play. Their possession and pressure strangled the home side after 15 minutes, Kovac' troops pouring forward in wave after wave, Goretzka rifling over the bar before Alaba miscued.

Hannover netminder Michael Esser saved from Goretzka and Lewandowski but found himself beaten when Alaba unleashed a 25-yarder that screamed its way into the top corner of the net. Esser proved equal to a Goretzka effort before Lewandowski saw a shot blocked, and the reeling home side were only two down at half-time because Bayern were wasteful with their chances.

Serge and Lewy add gloss

Hannover relieved the pressure by going on the attack after the restart, but Gnabry soon put the game to bed, seeing an effort blocked before beating Hannover's defenders to the rebound and slotting home. Esser saved from Gnabry and Müller before Lewandowski connected with a fine Kimmich cross to nod in Bayern's fourth.

Bayern created a string of half-chances but increasingly engaged cruise control, Sanches firing wide. Lewandowski tried to bag a brace in the closing stages but fired over the bar before hitting the side-netting, and match official Sören Storks put the hosts out of their misery.

The result means Bayern have 30 points from 15 matches. The Bavarians are back in action on Wednesday, when they entertain RB Leipzig before travelling to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the last match of the year next Saturday.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen