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FC Bayern (2-0) Hannover 96 | Recap

After once again being unable to finish off an attacking move in the first half, Bayern's finishing technique improved enough to net two goals after halftime to win comfortably.

Alexander Hassenstein

In their new "Wiesn" kits and in front of a full Südkurve once again, Bayern gave plenty enough to walk away from their first match after the international break with three points.

After several media outlets (erroneously) reported that FCB would be returning to their 4-2-3-1 formation that was used over the last two seasons under Heynckes, many were once again wondering what the role of Toni Kroos would be within the Bayern squad.

While the Guardiola 4-1-4-1 was the formation, Kroos and Lahm noticeably worked together more than in previous matches where the captain had been moved to the midfield.

The first half saw several near own-goals be the best of the scoring chances ironically enough, as well as a few forceful Bayern moves that were lacking the final ball and shot to open the scoring.

Like many matches before, it was Hannover attempting to hold out as long as possible while only sending as few men forward as they could get away with in their attacks as to not be exposed at the back.

After 50 minutes, they could hold out no longer.

A low and hard pass from the top of the box to the left flank by Arjen Robben to Toni Kroos put the German midfielder in a perfect position to send a one-touch pass into the box for the waiting Mario Mandzukic, who made the most of the space given to him and slipped his shot past Ron-Robert Zieler.

Now ahead, the match was all Bayern Munich.

Daniel van Buyten nearly volleyed in a corner and Thomas Müller probably should have scored minutes later when Mario Mandzukic headed down a cross directly into Müller's feet, but the shot went wide to the right.

Some exquisite football displayed by Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery doubled the lead in the 64' when Robben expertly controlled a lofted, deflected pass with the top of his foot and flicked it on behind himself to Ribery, who waited for Robben to overlap his run, which he did, before the Dutchman received the ball and fired a quick shot at Zieler. The shot was saved, but justly bounced straight to Ribery who wasted no time in sending a shot into the back of the net.

The rest of the match was relatively uneventful, with Shaqiri replacing Ribery, Dante coming on for Boateng, and Kirchhoff being sent on for Toni Kroos in an effort to preserve some of the team's energy for their Champions League match against CSKA Moscow at midweek.

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