Hannover 96 extended their assault on a berth on the European stage as they unceremoniously defeated Bayern München 3-1 at the Niedersachsenstadion. With the result, 96, who grappled with near ruin last year push to third spot in the Bundesliga table, whilst Bayern loses their third straight contest and run the risk of being overtaken by Mainz 05 who play on Sunday.

Mirko Slomka’s 96, with a firm vision of a spot in the Champions League came out gunning and took the lead a minute past the quarter hour as Mohammed Abdellaoue half volleyed in Konstantin Rausch’s beaming cross from the left flank into the back of the net. For the balance of the half, the hosts were clearly in charge of the beleagured Bayern but were only able to build upon their lead and had to be satisfied with the one-goal advantage as both sides went to their respective change rooms.

At the re-start, Bayern manager Louis van Gaal shuffled his line-up as he added Andreas Ottl and Daniel van Buyten for Holger Badstuber and Anatoliy Tymoschuk. Despite the changes 96 doubled its advantage six minutes into new half as coming off a short corner on the right, Konstantin Rausch was played back the ball and moving to the top corner of the area sent an effort took a fortuitous bounce off Mario Gómez, past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Thomas Kraft. Bayern quickly mounted a response as four minutes later Arjen Robben halved the margin by heading Franck Ribéry’s cross from the left by-line in at the opposite post. 96 would have nothing of a comeback and two minutes past the hour Sergio Pinto dispossessed Arjen Robben of the ball before surging forward and sending a dipping drive off the ‘keepers mitts in from twenty-two metres. Bayern’s efforts dug into a deeper hole with seventeen minutes remaining as Breno received a straight card for a malicious foul, forcing his side to play a man down. 96 continued to press the visitors and though they were unable to break through again, celebrated their stunning turnaround with a 3-1 victory.

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The Author: John Davies is available on his personal page on Facebook, Twitter with his business leadership and motivational video logs on his YouTube channel. In addition to writing for Europa League News, his Football reports appear for pre-eminent Russian media outlet Sports-Express (Спорт-Экспресс), the legendary Spartak Moscow.

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Bayer Leverkusen built upon last week’s victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach with a 2-0 triumph over visiting Hannover 96 at BayArena. With the result, Werkself pulls five points ahead of 96, still a hearty eight points off Borussia Dortmund in the race for the Bundesliga crown.

From last weeks result, Bayer 04 manager Jupp Heynckes made one change to their starting grid with former Germany captain Michael Ballack coming into the starting eleven after his long injury layoff that stretched back to the third week of the campaign, for Sidney Sam. His counterpart, Mirko Slomka, equally made one adjustment to his line-up from last weeks loss to Schalke 04 with Lars Stindl in for Jan Schlaudraff.

After an early effort from 96 that saw René Adler halting a Mohamed Abdellaoui effort, much of the play was box-to-box until midway of the half. Arturo Vidal narrowly missed breaking the deadlock just after twenty minute but seconds later the Chilean international powerfully half-volleyed the ball in from the edge of the area after Christian Schulz redirected Stefan Kießling’s deflected provision. Bayer 04 continued to dictate the run of the play but was unable to extend its advantage including a close range miss from Michael Ballack and a further chance from Stefan Kießling squandered. The hosts could not be deterred and three minutes shy of the break, Simon Rolfes, after being played through by Gonzalo Castro, curled the ball into the back of the net.
Up by two, Bayer 04 were in clear control as Michael Ballack dictated a granite solid midfield that allowed few changes. Three minutes shy of the hour the 96 tactician ushered Moritz Stoppelkamp in for Manuel Schmiedebach and moments later Didier Ya Konan squandered a quality chance when he broke in on René Adler but his final touch was well off course. As the contest entered the final twenty minutes, 96 missed a further chance to narrow the margin as Mohammed Abdellaoue nodded Steven Cherundolo’s cross over the bar. Though Bayer 04 was unable to breach the net of 96’s impressive young goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler again, they cruised to the victory with a 2-0 result.

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Hannover 96 roared to second-place in the Bundesliga race as they opened the Rückrunde with an overwhelming 3-0 win over host Eintracht Frankfurt at Waldstadion.

Rebounding from last years near disastrous campaign that saw them narrowly avoid relegation, Mirko Slomka’s side showed defending discipline as Eintracht controlled the run of play early. Fifteen minutes after the opening whistle 96 went in front as Norwegian international Mohammed Abdellaoue, latched onto Sérgio Pinto’s provision down the centre of the pitch after he dispossessed Benjamin Köhler, surged beyond Roberto Clark before sending the ball past Eintracht goalkeeper Oka Nikolov from the edge of the area. With die Adler’s voracious supporters in full support, Benjamin Köhler narrowly missed with the leveller moments later but it was not until 96 doubled their advantage. Six minutes after the opening goal, after Austrian international Emanuel Pogatetz came within a hushed whisper of scoring, Christian Schulz, at the near post, headed in Konstantin Rausch’s pinpoint corner from the right. Down by two, the host’s tactical plan was torn asunder, with 96 responding with confidently by absorbing pressure and looking for the counter.

At the restart, Michael Skibbe summoned Martin Fenin for Alexander Meier, as his side searched for a way back into the contest, whilst the 96 tactician added Jan Schlaudraff for Lars Stindl. Though the hosts looked positive in the early stages of the second half, quality chances failed to materialize as much of play was box to box. With fourteen minutes remaining in regulation time, 96’s highly promising young goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler, in his first start at the top flight, stamped his name on the proceedings with a superb stop of Ioannis Amanatidis’ header via a Benjamin Köhler free kick. As time wore down, the hosts were lacking in creating scoring chances and at the eighty-ninth minute Côte d’Ivoire international team Didier Ya Konan, from five metres out, sent in Lars Stindl’s cross from right by-line. Following another superb stop by goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler, Hannover 96 laid claim to the victory with a 3-0 victory.

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Hannover 96’s deeply problematic year that saw the sad passing of Robert Enke has come to end with them avoiding relegation via a final day 3-0 defeat of host VfL Bochum. The result eases 96 from the relegation zone whilst casting Bochum, along with Berlin, to the second division.

The start of the campaign last August was optimistic for 96. Coming off a fine mid-table finish, many thought there was a chance for a spot in Europe and that sat tenth in the Bundesliga table after their 8 November draw with Hamburger SV. Two days later, the year turned in an entirely different direction with a matter of far greater importance as Robert Enke passed at his own doing. The great ‘keeper, leader of 96, suffered from depression, as we would learn later and sadly took his own life.

The shock and realization of a matter of far greater importance saw the club drop into a severe tailspin whereby their next victory did not come till 13 March against Eintracht Frankfurt. Entering the final two weeks of the campaign, 96 the second to bottom position the chance to avoid relegation seem bleak. However, in a brilliant turn of events they managed to pull off victories over Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bochum and begin next year fresh.

Needing a win against Bochum, 96 went out in front at the ninth minute as Arnold Bruggink, from eleven metres, volleyed Hanno Balitsch’s lofted cross from the left. Midway of the half, 96 doubled its lead as Mike Hanke accepted Arnold Bruggink and curled the ball into the Bochum net. Just before the break, Manuel Schmiedebach surged along the left flank before providing to Sergio Pinto who scored from ten metres. Though Bochum fought nobly after the break, the lead was insurmountable and Hannover claimed the 3-0 victory and held off relegation with the greatest of escapes

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Coming off their disappointing end in the Champions League, VfB Stuttgart defeated Hannover 96 at the Neckarstadion courtesy of Ciprian Marica’s two goals. With the result Christian Gross’ side continue their stunning turnaround and now sit seventh in the Bundesliga table, whilst 96 cling perilously on the relegation ropes at the fifteenth spot.

From the opening whistle, Stuttgart was clearly in control of the proceedings, despite having little time to prepare for the encounter. After early efforts by Zdravko Kuzmanović and Ciprian Marica showed their intentions, Stuttgart settled down and methodically carved openings in the troubled 96 unit. Nine minutes shy of the break Belarusian international Aliaksandr Hleb surged down the left flank before turning at the by-line and delivering a pin-point cross that Ciprian Marica nodded in from a few metres out. The hosts narrowly missed doubling their lead before the break as the striker rasped Aliaksandr Hleb’s cross off the woodwork.

Die Schwaben showed no let-up after the break and six minutes prior to the hour, Hannover defender Christian Schulz saw Ciprian Marica get between his pass on the edge of the area and the Romanian international quickly sent the ball into the net. The visitors showed no quit in trying to get back into the affair but they could not breakthrough and the match concluded 2-0 in favour of VfB Stuttgart.

VfB Stuttgart returns to play next Saturday as they visit Bayern München, whilst Hannover 96 welcomes Köln to the Niedersachsenstadion.

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Just when you thought Hannover 96 were ready to go down for the count and accept relegation to the second division, they fought back to defeat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 at the Niedersachsenstadion. With the victory, 96 maintain pace with Nürnberg and are at the sixteenth spot of the Bundesliga table, whilst Eintracht are at tenth.

96 billowed with a new found resolve and after squandering a few early efforts went in front 1-0 at the fourteenth minute as a cross from the right by-line soared high into the box, with Didier Konan Ya bringing down before Leon Andreasen drove into the net past Eintracht ‘keeper Oka Nikolov. Following the go-ahead goal, the momentum began to shift and in added-time, before the break, Halil Altintop half-volleyed a free kick from the left into the back of the net from ten metres out.

After the break, Eintracht were looking strong but six minutes shy of the hour were forced to play a man down when Selim Teber was given his exit orders with his second yellow-card. Three minutes later, Sergio Pinto opportunistically chipped in the rebound of Élson’s attempt from seven metres that the Eintracht ‘keeper did not parry sufficiently. For the remainder of the affair, Eintract did little to suggest they would find the leveller. In added-time Eintracht went down to nine-men as Maik Franz was shown his second yellow card before 96 claimed the 2-1 victory.

Both sides return to play next Saturday as Hannover 96 visits VfB Stuttgart at the Neckarstadion, whilst Eintracht Frankfurt welcomes Bayern München to Waldstadion.

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Hannover 96 notched an important win in their fight to avoide relegation as they defeated Freiburg at the Badenova-Stadion. With the result Freiburg drop into the relegation zone at sixteenth in the Bundesliga table, whilst Hannover 96 leap fronts into the fifteenth a spot.

96 started as the clear aggressors but neither side the required finishing touch until the latter stages of the affair. Three minutes after the hour, 96 went in-front 1-0 as Élson, from the edge of the area, drill a poor clearance of Constant Djakpa’s cross into the corner of the net. Seven minutes later Yacine Abdessadki got the end of Julian Schuster’s provision before hammering the ball past Florian Fromlowitz to make it 1-1. However three minutes later, 96 had the goal they needed as Arnold Bruggink’s free kick was inadvertently turned into his own goal by Papiss Cisse to make the final score 2-1.

Both sides return to play on Saturday as Hannover 96 welcomes Eintracht Frankfurt to Niedersachsenstadion, whilst SC Freiburg visits Bayern München.

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The threat of relegation continues to grow for Hannover 96 as they fell 1-0 to VfL Wolfsburg at the Niedersachsenstadion. The loss, 96’s ninth in the row, sees them off to the second to bottom spot in the Bundesliga table, whilst defending champions Wolfsburg languish at eleventh.

Hannover, without a win since the 31 October victory over Köln, was the stronger of the two in the early stages of the contest. Élson’s speculative effort at the fifteen-minute mark forced Wolfburg ‘keeper Marwin Hitz, enjoying his first start into action. Slowly the defending champions gained a foothold with the Bosnia and Herzegovina duo of Zvjezdan Misimović and Edin Džeko at the centre of the storm, primarily coming from the former’s crafty play-making abilities. However, with each turn of the screw 96 ‘keeper Florian Fromlowitz proved up to the challenge and the match went to the break scoreless.

The home supporter’s hopes flourished as 96 showed notable attacking spirits after the break and carved out a number of notable chances, though each was thwarted by Wolfsburg. As they situations tend to be, Hannover would rue missed opportunities as with eleven minutes remaining in regulation time Marcel Schäfer sent a lofted cross from the left that Grafite headed on to Zvjezdan Misimović that the back post, to which he confidently volleyed into the net for the 1-0 lead. 96 went on the hunt for the equalizer but Wolfburg ‘keeper Marwin Hitz held back a high probability Arnold Bruggink effort, after he was played through by Arouna Koné. Without further incident, the match concluded 1-0 in Wolfsburg’s favour.

Hannover 96 returns to play next Saturday in a crucial relegation battle as they face Freiburg at the Badenova-Stadion, whilst Wolfsburg welcome Bochum to Volkswagen Arena.

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Borussia Dortmund rebounded from last weeks falter to Bayern München with a powerful 4-1 defeat of Hannover 96 at Westfalenstadion. With the result Jürgen Klopp’s side hold down the fifth spot of the Bundesliga table, whist 96 appear destined for relegation as they sit level in points with Nürnberg at sixteenth.

Despite what the score line suggests, the Dortmunders were challenged by the visitors. Prior to the match BVB manager Jürgen Klopp noted his side will face a determined opponent and will need to, “put our fighting spirit and our skills in the right order on the pitch”. Die Schwarzgelben took the 1-0 lead two minutes shy of the break as Serbian international Neven Subotić soared to head in Nuri Şahin’s corner from the right into the net.

After the break, BVB continued to pressure but were unable to break through until Mario Eggimann was victimized for an own goal at the hour as he inadvertently sent in Mohamed Zidan’s free kick. With the two goal advantage Jürgen Klopp immediately summoned Tamás Hajnal and Nelson Valdez into the match as the Dortmunders looked to squash any advance by 96. At the seventy-seventh minute Paraguayan international Nelson Valdez opportunistically had 96 goalkeeper Florian Fromlowitz’s save of Patrick Owomoyela’s effort bounce off him from close range to make it 3-0 for BVB. With nine minutes remaining in regulation, Arouna Koné added 96’s lone goal as he half-volleyed in Christian Schulz’s cross from the left flank. At the eighty-eighth minute Mats Hummels played through Kevin Großkreutz on the left, with the twenty-one year-old rising star scoring from eleven metres to bring the match to a 4-1 final in favour of Borussia Dortmund.

Borussia Dortmund return to play next Friday evening as they travel to Gelsenkirchen of face Schalke 04, whilst Hannover 96 welcome VfL Wolfsburg to the Niedersachsenstadion.

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Hannover 96’s dreadful slide continued with a 5-1 loss to Werder Bremen, in front of their home supporters at Niedersachsenstadion. The seventh consecutive loss for 96 has them mired at the sixteenth spot in the Bundesliga table, whilst Werder climbs to sixth, a scant two points off Borussia Dortmund.

Die Grün-Weißen jumped in front of their troubled hosts at the eleventh minute as Peter Niemeyer accept a simple throw-in on the right, before creating some space and firing the ball in from an acute angle. 96 looked broken seven minutes later as Naldo headed Mesut Özil’s corner to the back of the net. Six minutes later, Hannover’s woeful day continued as Leon Andreasen inadvertently cleared Per Mertesacker’s free kick into in his own goal to give Werder the 3-0 lead. If there was any doubt of the outcome, a minute shy of the break Aaron Hunt re-directed Marko Marin’s set piece for the hefty four-goal advantage.

After the break, Thomas Schaaf’s side knew their task was to keep the match bottled up but showed honour by attacking at will their beaten hosts. Though Christian Schulz lodged a consolation goal against his old club, just shy of the hour, it mattered little in the outcome. Following Hannover’s lone marker Claudio Pizarro added his name to the score sheet at the sixty-eighth as he volleyed in Marko Marin’s cross to bring the match to a 5-1 conclusion.

Werder Bremen returns to play on Thursday against Twente in Europa League play before welcoming Bayer 04 Leverkusen to the Weserstadion on Sunday, whilst Hannover 96 visit Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

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