Red hot Bayern

Bayern forwards Thomas Mueller (L) and Arjen Robben celebrate after the latter completed his hattrick in their Bundesliga match against Hannover at the Allianz Arena on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Arjen Robben hit a hattrick as Bayern Munich warmed up for their Champions League semifinal with Lyon by hammering Hanover 7-0 on Saturday to go back to the top of the Bundesliga.
After Schalke had temporarily taken top spot in the German league, Bayern went back to the summit at Munich's Allianz Arena thanks to Robben's triple and two goals apiece from Ivica Olic and Thomas Mueller.
The result leaves Mirko Slomka-coached Hanover second from bottom with just three games left, while Bayern remain on course for their 22nd German title and will head into the first leg of their tie with Lyon on Wednesday in good heart.
Bayern were in control throughout and Olic opened the scoring with a header on 22 minutes before Robben grabbed his first to make it 2-0 with half an hour played.
Munich were without Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who was suffering from an upset stomach.
They hardly missed him thanks to the dominance of Olic and Robben, who were both on target in the 3-2 defeat at Manchester United 10 days ago that took Bayern into the Champions League last four on aggregate.
The pair scored within a minute of each other early in the second half to make it 5-0 after Mueller, 20, had struck just before half-time.
And the youngster showed the dazzling form that has taken him to the verge of the Germany squad for this summer's World Cup with a superb individual goal on 62 minutes as Hanover's defence capitulated before Robben's third in injury time.
Earlier, Schalke's Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic netted twice in a 3-1 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach to leave the Royal Blues second, two points behind Bayern.
Ten-man Bayer Leverkusen are virtually out of the title race after they were beaten 2-1 at Stuttgart, with striker Stefan Kiessling netting for Bayer before Germany teammate Cacau scored twice for the hosts.
Leverkusen were reduced to 10 men when Swiss midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta was dismissed after just 19 minutes for a second dangerous foul.
Cacau scored the equaliser and then smashed home the long-range winner on 85 minutes.
The result dumped Leverkusen down to fourth, seven points behind Schalke with just three games to play this season.
Werder Bremen went third as midfielder Torsten Frings gave Germany coach Joachim Loew a timely reminder of his talents with two goals in his side's 4-2 victory at defending champions Wolfsburg.
Hamburg were stunned 1-0 at home by mid-table Mainz while Freiburg gave themselves a fighting chance of staying in the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win over fellow relegation candidates Nuremberg.
RESULTS
VfB Stuttgart 2 (Cacau 29, 85) Bayer Leverkusen 1 (Kiessling 13)
VfL Wolfsburg 2 (Dzeko 18, Grafite 40) Werder Bremen 4 (Frings 38-pen, 62, Pizarro 49, Almeida 75)
Schalke 04 3 (Rakitic 8, 47-pen, Farfan 45) Borussia M'gladbach 1 (Bobadilla 16)
Hamburg 0 Mainz 1 (Bance 20)
Freiburg 2 (Maroh 4-og, Cisse 60) Nuremberg 1 (Maroh 79)
Bayern Munich 7 (Olic 22, 49, Robben 30, 50, 90+1, Mueller 44, 62) Hanover 0