Borussia Dortmund stretched their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to four points with a 3-1 victory over Hannover.
Winning run continues for defending champions
Borussia Dortmund stretched their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to four points with a 3-1 victory over the last side to have beaten them in the league this season, Hannover.
Robert Lewandowski scored twice for the home side in a result which equalled a club record of consecutive top-flight wins.
Didier Ya Konan was on target for the Reds, who lost their unbeaten record in 2012 and consequently missed the chance they had to move into the top six with a win.
Ivan Perisic completed the scoring in stoppage time to keep Dortmund on course for a successful defence of their Bundesliga title.
Sven Bender's involvement in the game lasted just six minutes when he was caught on the head by Mame Diouf and was forced to leave the action with blood dripping from a wound.
Dortmund took the lead in the 27th minute with Lukasz Piszczek threading the ball through to the in-form Lewandowski, who shook off the challenge of Eggimann before striking the ball powerfully into the far corner, with Eggimann getting a slight deflection on the ball.
Opportunity
Marcel Schmelzer shot just wide right before Lewandowski hit the post with Dortmund threatening a second.
Jakub Blaszczykowski then wasted a one-on-one opportunity with Ron Robert Zieler just before the break.
Given the number of chances wasted, Dortmund's one-goal lead was looking increasingly precarious, which is why Lewandowski's second goal in the 54th minute was met with great relief from the home faithful.
Blaszczykowski drew Zieler out to him and then squared for the Dortmund striker to sweep the ball into the empty net.
Hannover replied six minutes later with Ya Konan sending an unstoppable shot into the top-right corner from 25 yards out.
The goal ensured a nervous ending for Dortmund, although they never risked conceding before Perisic sealed the win with the last kick of the game. He latched onto
Blaszczykowski's free-kick to beat the onrushing Zieler with a lob to secure the points.
