Bayern sink Hannover to streak 19 points clear

FC Bayern München moved 19 points clear atop the Bundesliga after clinching their 14th successive league victory in a 4-0 triumph at Hannover 96.

With second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen and third-placed Borussia Dortmund both having succumbed on Saturday, Bayern knew they could further enhance their already commanding position at mid-table Hannover. The home side started brightly, with Artjoms Rudnevs foiled by goalkeeper Tom Starke early on, but Bayern soon went ahead when Thomas Müller met Rafinha's cross with a textbook header.

Hannover keeper Ron-Robert Zieler briefly kept Bayern at bay, but Josep Guardiola's outfit could not be held in check indefinitely and enjoyed a 2-0 lead at half-time, Thiago Alcántara expertly controlling and finishing Bastian Schweinsteiger's deep, floated cross. Müller finished Mario Mandžukić's back-heeled lay-off to get his second just before the hour mark, and 3-0 quickly turned to 4-0 when Mandžukić converted another Rafinha delivery for his 13th league goal of the season.

Elsewhere, Eintracht Frankfurt found no way past SV Werder Bremen at home, despite the visitors losing Felix Kroos to a 34th-minute red card. The two teams remained locked together on 22 points, hovering three points above the relegation zone.