Michael Ballack inspired Bayer Leverkusen to a 2-0 home win over Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga to trim the gap on leaders Borussia Dortmund to eight points on Friday.
Leverkusen moved five points clear of third-placed Hannover.
Ballack — back in the starting lineup for the first time in four months after recovering from injury — had 94 touches of the ball, more than anyone else.
“We saw two good teams today and it was a lot of work for us. The few chances we had, we used,” Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes said. “I’d say we were somewhat the cleverer team.”
Arturo Vidal had Leverkusen’s first chance in the ninth minute when his low shot from the edge of the area skimmed past the post.
The Chilean scored in the 21st minute with a crisp shot from 16m after the Hannover defense failed to clear from Stefan Kiessling. Vidal created the initial chance for Kiessling after collecting a long punt forward by goalkeeper Rene Adler.
Ballack was given a defensive role in midfield, where he faced Sergio Pinto — the man who injured his knee the last time the sides met on Sept. 11 — and he fouled him in the 22nd minute. Pinto returned the favor 10 minutes later.
Leverkusen captain Simon Rolfes’ perfectly timed run onto a pass from Gonzalo Castro allowed him tuck it past goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler into the right corner in the 42nd minute.
Didier Ya Konan — Hannover’s top scorer this season with 10 goals — was flagged offside early in the second half when he thought he was through on goal.
Ya Konan used his speed to cut between Sami Hyypia and Stefan Reinartz in the 59th minute, but his shot flew over the crossbar.
Hannover continued to press ahead and Mohammed Abdellaoue could not keep his header below the bar after a wonderful cross from Steven Cherundolo shortly afterwards.
Adler produced a flying save to deny Christian Schultz with 20 minutes remaining, then Zieler bettered it at the other end moments later, when he got a hand to Renato Augusto’s chipped effort at the end of a counterattack.
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