Bayern scores 5, dismantles Hannover
Javi Martinez scored his first goal for Bayern Munich as the Bundesliga leader dismantled Hannover with ease 5-0 at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.
Martinez opened the scoring in the fourth minute before Toni Kroos and Franck Ribery made it three before halftime.
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Dante and Mario Gomez wrapped up victory in the second half with Hannover, whose coach Mirko Slomka is strongly regarded as the main candidate to replace Jupp Heynckes on the Bayern bench next season, unable to make any impression on the scoreline.
Martinez opened his account for Bayern in fine style with an overhead kick from Bastian Schweinsteiger's header in the fourth minute.
The home side stamped its authority on the game, refusing to allow Hannover to create any danger, and deservedly doubled its lead in the 24th minute when Philipp Lahm's cross was met by an another acrobatic effort, this time from Kroos, to beat Ron-Robert Zieler.
The game was over 13 minutes later when Ribery made it three.
Thomas Muller was the provider for the Frenchman, who skipped past a Hannover defender before providing a cool finish.
Slomka brought Mohammed Abdellaoue on for the second half, but it was still Bayern posing the biggest threat with Ribery and Mario Mandzukic both missing chances.
Dante did not waste his first chance of the game in the 63rd minute, though, as he headed in Kroos' free-kick to make it four with Zieler unable to keep the ball out.
Gomez was sent on for Mandzukic to make his first Bundesliga appearance of the season, and less than a minute after taking to the field, he scored his first goal of the campaign.
Kroos was involved in creating the opportunity, but Gomez still had work to do as he held off the challenge of Karim Haggui and slotted the ball in from a tight angle to complete the rout.
Also Saturday, Borussia Dortmund moved up to second courtesy of a 2-1 win at Mainz.
Marco Caligiuri put the hosts in front as early as the fourth minute, but Marco Reus equalized eight minutes later.
Robert Lewandowski earned Dortmund all three points as it took full advantage of a draw between Schalke and Eintracht Frankfurt to leap above both of them into second, nine points adrift of Bayern.
Schalke fell even further behind as it was held 1-1 by third-placed Eintracht at the Arena AufSchalke.
Klaas Jan Huntelaar put the Royal Blues in front in the 11th minute, but Stefan Aigner responded within two minutes to earn Armin Veh's side a point. Schalke did all of the attacking in the second half, but not even with an extra man following Karim Matmour's red card in the 87th minute could Huub Stevens' side find a winner.
Wolfsburg and 10-man Werder Bremen shared the points in a 1-1 draw that did little to help the lofty aspirations that both teams have this season.
Marko Arnautovic gave Bremen the lead in the 35th minute but Lukas Schmitz was given a red card in the 62nd minute and Wolfsburg equalized almost immediately through Bas Dost.
Greuther Furth picked up a point at home in their fight against relegation in a lackluster 0-0 draw against local rivals and fellow strugglers Nurnberg in a clash where both teams finished with 10 men.
In the 255th meeting between the clubs, Markus Feulner was sent off for Nurnberg in the 35th minute while Sercan Sararer also saw red after picking up his second booking for Furth after 61 minutes.
Information from Press Association was used in this report.
