Mueller converted from the penalty spot on 61 minutes to give Pep Guardiola's side a 2-1 lead before heading home his second from substitute Franck Ribery's cross on 72 minutes as Bayern ran out comfortable winners.
Hiroshi Kiyotake had given the home side a shock lead when he slotted beyond Manuel Neuer on 25 minutes, but the lead only lasted around three minutes with Xabi Alonso flicking a free-kick over the wall and into the net for the equaliser on 28 minutes.
Guardiola raised a few eyebrows when he decided to send on Robert Lewandowski for Dante four minutes later, but it seemed to pay off with the Poland forward earning the penalty when he was deemed to have been fouled by Marcelo.
Replays showed it to be a dreadful decision from the referee with Lewandowski himself guilty of dangerous play with his head only a yard or so off the ground in trying to head home.
It was not the game's pivotal moment with Bayern well in control. They move 11 points clear at the top of the standings after nearest challengers Wolfsburg lost 1-0 at Augsburg.
KEY MOMENTS
25' - GOAL! Hiroshi Kiyotake with a lovely finish into the corner of the net from the Briand pass. Dante left marking fresh air. And Hannover have the lead.
28' - EQUALISER! Alosno up and over the wall. Ron-Robert Zieler left rooted to his line as the ball few past him to his right. Wrong-footed. And it is 1-1.
59' - PENALTY TO BAYERN! Marcelo catches Lewandowski on the head, but his head was so low it was impossible not to. Goodness knows why he went at that with his head. Referee has awarded a penalty. Marcelo must have been holding the Polish forward. That was a controversial decision.
61' - GOAL! Mueller slams the ball to Zieler's right. He couldn't get there. And the score is 2-1 to Bayern.
72' - GOAL! Muller with his second goal of the match. So simple. Run and cross by Ribery, headed finish by Muller. 3-1 now.
KEY STATS
This was Arjen Robben's 100th Bundseliga win in 126 games.
It was Thomas Mueller's 113th goal for Bayern at the age of 25.
TALKING POINT
Should Bayern have had a penalty? No. Absolutely not. Dreadful decision. Robert Lewandowski needed treatment for a head injury before Mueller stroked home the penalty, but his head shouldn't have been anywhere near the deck. It should have been a foul to the home side. It does make you wonder why such decisions are given. Very harsh on Hannover even if the overall result wasn't.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich): Such a key figure for club and country. And again showed the importance of being an attacking midfielder and centre-forward rolled into one in the modern game. Special mention to Ribery for his input from the bench. More importantly, both men look in good shape before Bayern host Shakhtar Donetsk in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 encounter on Wednesday night after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
PLAYER RATINGS
Hannover: Zieler 7, Pereira 6, Marcelo 6, Schulz 6, Albornoz 6, Schmiedebach 6, Sane 6, Briand 6, Kiyotake 6, Bittencourt 6, Sobiech 6. Subs: Prib 6, Joselu 6, Ya Konan 6
Bayern Munich: Neuer 6, Boateng 6, Dante 5, Badstuber 6, Rafinha 7, Alonso 7, Alaba 7, Bernat 7, Robben 7, Goetze 6, Muller 8. Subs: Ribery 8, Lewandowski 7, Schweinsteiger 7.
No comments:
Post a Comment