Defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich bounced back from their midweek DFB-Pokal elimination with a 5-1 rout of Hannover.
Jiri Stajner had given Hannover the lead after 15 minutes at the Allianz Arena, but goals from Daniel Van Buyten, Miroslav Klose, Hamit Altintop, Lukas Podolski and Martin Demichelis sealed an emphatic win for the hosts.
Hertha Berlin lead the Bundesliga by four points following their victory at Energie Cottbus today but Hoffenheim's draw with Werder Bremen served as a boost to Jurgen Klinsmann's Bayern.
Bayern began strongly but were stunned by Stajner's 15th-minute opener when he beat Lucio with some intricate dribbling before firing home from inside the box.
However Bayern leveled five minutes later.
Belgian defender Van Buyten showed trademark aerial power to rise and head home Bastian Schweinsteiger's teasing free-kick.
Klose continued the turnaround in the 25th minute and again it was Schweinsteiger's boot which provided the goal, with the striker heading home from the middle of the area.
Klinsmann's side continued to press and were rewarded when Altintop made it 3-1 in the 34th minute, turning brilliantly before finishing coolly beyond veteran goalkeeper Robert Enke.
Further chances came and went, and a rare Podolski goal in the 73rd minute extended the lead. Again Bayern scored with a header, this time Podolski connecting with Ze Roberto's curling cross from the left.
American Landon Donovan had a chance to stretch the lead as Hannover desperately awaited the full-time whistle.
And Demichelis completed the rout a minute from time when he headed Ze Roberto's precise cross beyond Enke.
