Bayern Munich easily handle Hannover 96 in a 4-0 victory

It was all Bayern Munich on Saturday as they easily defeated Hannover 96 4-0 at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern were on the front foot early pressuring the Hannover defense. The opening goal came in the 6th minute. Rafinha played a long ball over the top. Robert Lewandowski beat the offside trap, chested the ball down to his feet, and finished past Ron-Robert Zieler for the early 1-0 lead. (Video: Watch the goal)

Six minutes later, the Bavarians would double the lead. Philipp Lahm intercepted Hannover pass, and the ball bounced right to the feet of Arjen Robben. The Dutchman ran at full speed toward the Hannover defense. Unable to be stopped, Robben easily put his shot past Zieler to make it 2-0 and set Bayern to the races. (Video: Watch the goal)

Xabi Alonso is amazing. In the 20th minute, while standing behind the midfield line, Alonso noticed that Zieler was a step too far off of his line. The Spaniard sent a ball toward the Hannover goal, and if not for a last second jumping deflection from Zieler, Alonso scores a spectacular goal.

After ten minutes or so of Robben harassing the Hannover defense, Lewandowski decided to put another ball in the back of the net. Xherdan Shaqiri started to really come into the game with several great crosses. Then, 38th in the minute, Shaqiri's long diagonal ball was brought down by Lewandowski, and he shot past Zieler for the 3-0 advantage. (Video: Watch the goal)

Oh, just before halftime, Joselu beat Dante and Benatia to have a one-on-one with Manuel Neuer. Then, Neuer pulled a Neuer and made a big save. Bayern were up 3-0 heading into halftime.

Bayern started the second half in the same fashion that they did the first half. Hannover struggled to get any real traction in the match. At the hour mark, Hannover were sitting on just one shot (Joselu's) in the entire match, and FC Bayern had nearly 70% of the possession. So, Guardiola decided to shake things up by bringing of Shaqiri for Claudio Pizarro.

In the 70th minute, Robben played Lahm into the Hannover penalty area before the FCB captain laid the ball back to him. Robben dribbled into double coverage, as the man marking Lewandowski left the Polish striker unmarked in the six yard box. Unfortunately, Robben didn't see Lewandowski for the easy tap-in, and the winger's shot was easily deflected. In order to get fresh legs onto the field, Guardiola then brought on Sebastian Rode for Lahm.

Have we talked about how great Robben is today? In the 78th minute, he tried to play Pizarro in behind the Hannover defense, but the ball was deflected right back to him. So, what does Robben do? He dribbles to his left and rips a bullet past Zieler to make it 4-0. (Video: Watch the goal)

In the final substitution of the day, Gianluca Gaudino came on the field to replace Alonso.

The final minutes would tick away, and FC Bayern remain at the top of the Bundesliga table.