Arjen Robben hit a hat-trick as Bayern Munich warmed up for their Champions League semi-final with Lyon by hammering Hanover 7-0 yesterday to go back to the top of the Bundesliga.
"We were very good, very aggressive and we showed the sort of ruthlessness we need to control games," said Robben. "It sets us up well for Wednesday."
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.
"We played well, but we lost our concentration a bit in the second half and need to play better (on Wednesday night)," said Bayern coach Louis van Gaal after Robben's first hat-trick for Munich since joining from Real Madrid.
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 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 Moenchen-gladbach 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 team-mate 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.