Bayer Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes felt his side were pushed all the way as they beat Hannover 2-0 last night.

The win lifted Leverkusen to within eight points of league leaders Borussia Dortmund, putting a gap of five points between themselves and third-placed Hannover, but it was far from easy.

"There were two good teams on the field," he said. "It was a lot of work for us to beat them. They ran a lot and were homogeneous. I think that we played very cleverly, were very compact and played with discipline. It was also important that we kept a clean sheet."

It was a lot of work for us to beat them. They ran a lot and were homogeneous. I think that we played very cleverly, were very compact and played with discipline.
Jupp Heynckes, Bayer Leverkusen coach

The game, sealed by first-half goals from Arturo Vidal and Simon Rolfes, also marked the return of Michael Ballack to the Leverkusen starting XI, and the Germany captain was delighted to go the whole distance. "It was a good feeling to get 90 minutes in the Bundesliga for the first time after my injury," he said.

Hannover coach Mirko Slomka felt his side did everything right, until they got in front of goal. "We lacked the absolute desire to score a goal," he said.