Hannover vs. Bayern Munich: Score, Reaction from 2015 Bundesliga Match

Bayern Munich weren't in top finishing form Saturday but still managed to emerge with a 1-0 victory over Hannover at HDI-Arena. Thomas Muller netted the game's only goal from the penalty spot.

The Bavarians head into the league's winter break at the top of the table. They hold an eight-point lead over Borussia Dortmund in what's, for the most part, already become a two-club race. The loss keeps 16th-place Hannover in line for a potential relegation battle during the second half of the campaign.

Much of the focus during the week wasn't on the match itself but rather the future of Bayern manager Pep Guardiola. While he admitted a decision has already been made, he didn't want to show his hand to create even more of a circus before the fixture, as relayed by Peter Gilbert of Sky Sports.

"The club, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and I have said time and time again that we will say something after our final game in Hannover, and that's how things are going to stay," Guardiola said. "I'm just focusing on Hannover. I've been watching their games."

It's fair to wonder if all of the talk became a distraction for the league leaders. The Bavarians were pretty listless during the early portion of the match. Despite holding a clear possession edge, they created very few notable chances and didn't showcase their typical fluidity in the attacking third.

They finally came alive around the half-hour mark with some more intense pressure. An effort by Robert Lewandowski struck the post, and Hannover goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler made a terrific reaction save on Muller moments later.

Bayern finally broke through in the 40th minute on a penalty kick. A clear handball by defender Christian Schulz sent Muller to the spot, and he converted the attempt with ease, slotting it into the right side as Zieler dove the opposite way.

Mark Lovell of ESPN FC highlighted the club's success when the German forward scores:

WhoScored.com showcased the mostly one-sided nature of the opening half:

It was more of the same in the second half.

Bayern dominated possession and generated more chances, leaving Hannover with only a couple of counterattacking looks as they sought the equalizer.

The drama did begin to increase as the Bavarians struggled to find the second goal they needed to put the match out of reach. They spent a lot of time in the opposition half but lacked the precision normally witnessed from the reigning champions.

Hannover could never put Manuel Neuer under any distress, though. So Bayern were able to see out the match at an extremely controlled pace over the final 20 minutes.

Ultimately, it wasn't the most convincing performance of the campaign from Bayern. But they did what most champions do and found a way to win even when not at their best. Getting all three points is always the most important thing in the end.

Bayern celebrated the result:

Cristian Nyari of FCB Media noted the break comes at a good time for the leaders:

Looking ahead, Bayern can rest easy during the break after a strong first half of the campaign. They must use the time off effectively because there won't be many opportunities to catch their breath once the action resumes—with Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League and DFB-Pokal matches on the horizon.

Things aren't nearly as comfortable for Hannover. The side's lack of attacking prowess is going to make it difficult to pull away from the relegation battle. The margin for error will likely remain extremely thin right down to the end.

The Bavarians return to the pitch on Jan. 22 for an away fixture against Hamburg. Hannover are back in action the next day, Jan. 23, as they welcome Darmstadt to HDI-Arena.  

Post-Match Reaction

Guardiola made no reference to his future in his post-game remarks. He instead applauded his squad's efforts for continuing to get results while battling injuries, as the club noted:

Ryland James of the Agence France-Presse passed along comments from Muller, who explained the players hadn't heard anything about the boss' future, either:

It's surely a conversation that's going to dominate the headlines until an official announcement is made. Bayern would probably prefer to have a plan in place before they return to action next month so the focus can be solely on winning trophies during the second half of the campaign.