Wolfsburg bounced back from their DFB-Pokal second-round exit at the hands of Cologne to get past Hannover with another fine display.
Hannover had conceded just four goals, the fewest in the Bundesliga, coming into the game but Zvjezdan Misimovic opened the scoring after just eight minutes. Hanno Balitsch equalised in the 28th minute before Christian Gentner made it 2-1 for the hosts after 45 minutes.
Makoto Hasebe doubled the lead in the 48th only to see Wolfsburg! 's defensive struggles continue with Alexander Madlung's own goal in the 50th minute but Edin Dzeko secured the Wolfsburg victory with his strike with 28 minutes to play.
The reigning champions came quickly out of the blocks and went ahead after eight minutes thanks to a fine free-kick by Misimovic, who curled the ball over the wall from 17 yards into the upper right corner.
Wolfsburg had chances to add a second but paid the price for their profligacy as Hannover equalised in the 28th minute through Balitsch's header from six yards following a corner.
The hosts regained the lead a minute before the break on a counter-attack, with Gentner beating Hannover keeper Florian Fromlowitz from the left side.
Wolfsburg doubled the cushion three minutes after the restart, again from the left side where Hasebe headed into the far right corner.
The margin was one again two minutes later as Wolfsburg defender Madlung turned a cross into his own net. He ! nearly made good his mistake in the 52nd but Fromlowitz saved ! the atte mpt on the line.
Dzeko made it 4-2 on a counter-attack after 62 minutes and Wolfsburg keeper Andre Lenz needed to make a fine save six minutes later and Hannover's Sofien Chahed hit the right post with 18 minutes to play.
