Bayern Munich won and moved to the verge of a record-extending seventh straight Bundesliga title on Saturday, while rival Borussia Dortmund blew a two-goal lead and drew at Werder Bremen 2-2.
Robert Lewandowski, Leon Goretzka, and Franck Ribery scored for Bayern to beat last-placed Hannover 3-1 at home and move four points clear of Dortmund with two rounds to play.
Hannover would have lost by more had goalkeeper Michael Esser not produced a fine performance to keep Bayern at bay, but the side has only mathematical hopes of avoiding relegation after its 22nd defeat from 32 games.
Lewandowski and Goretzka gave Bayern a deserved 2-0 lead but Hannover was given a lifeline early in the second half when Jerome Boateng was penalized through VAR for handball despite being able to do little about it.
“It was a ghost penalty,” Hannover coach Thomas Doll acknowledged.
Halftime substitute Jonathas scored the spot kick in the 52nd, then was booked for bundling over Sven Ulreich as he went to retrieve the ball. It was to prove costly for the Brazilian forward as he was booked again when his hand caught Joshua Kimmich in the face in a challenge. Jonathas was sent off after less than 10 minutes on the pitch.
Ribery sealed the result for Bayern in the 84th and there was further good news for the home side in the final minutes when Arjen Robben went on for his first league appearance since November.