Bayern Munich moved up to fourth in the Bundesliga thanks to a much-needed victory against Hannover.

Thomas Muller put Louis van Gaal's side ahead in the 19th minute and Ivica Olic added the second two minutes after the interval.

A Mario Gomez strike in the 90th minute made the win a little more convincing and relieved a bit of the pressure on the Bayern coach.

He had been told by the club's director of sport Christian Nerlinger that he must win the final four games of 2009 to keep hold of his job, and this win means he now has three more challenges to overcome before Christmas.

Bayern started brightly with Olic a constant threat on the left wing, where he was playing in the absence of the injured Franck Ribery.

His cross in the 19th minute evaded everybody on its way across goal to Muller, and the youngster placed his shot just inside the near post for his fourth goal of the season.

Hannover tried to react, but found Hans-Jorg Butt in excellent form in the Bayern goal to deny them.

Olic nodded Bayern two ahead early in the second half when he was this time on the end of a left-wing cross.

Mark van Bommel played the ball into the path of Danijel Pranjic, whose first-time cross was diverted into the top right-hand corner of the goal by the Croatian striker.

Hannover once again responded well and Arnold Bruggink tested Butt with an accurate angled shot which the Bayern goalkeeper saved well at his near post.

Florian Fromlowitz made an equally impressive reflex save at the other end to deny Muller his second of the game.

Substitute Mike Hanke then missed a golden opportunity to bring the home side back into it when he headed wide from six yards out with the goal gaping.

And Gomez completed the scoring with his second goal in as many games in the final minute, beating Fromlowitz with a left-foot shot after being fed by Alexander Baumjohann.