Hertha BSC Berlin - Bayern Munich 0:0
Werder Bremen - Hansa Rostock 3:2

Hannover 96 downs to the sixth in the standings.

DSC Arminia Bielefeld - Hannover 96
15 : 8 shots at the goal
12 : 2 corner kicks
21 : 9 crosses
21: 23 fouls
  5 : 3 offsides
52% : 48% contacts with the ball
50% : 50% +challenges

Most shots at the goal:
96: Daniel Stendel (3)
Bielefeld: Ervin Skela (4)

Most setups:
96: Jiri Stajner (3)
Bielefeld: D. Dammeier, F. Vata (4)

Most contacts with the ball:
96: Julian de Guzman (73)
Bielefeld: Patrick Owomoyela (82)

Most won challenges:
96: Steven Cherundolo (77%)
Bielefeld: R. Kauf (63%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

A great goal by Daniel Stendel, who has beaten 2 Arminia players inside the box, and a defensive performance by The Reds decided the match for Hannover 96 with 1:0. The 18-year old German Sören Halfar gave his debut for 96 on the left back position. Hannover moved to the 5th in the table.

96-head coach Ewald Lienen started with a 4-4-2 formation. Hannover played without defender Michael Tarnat who was out due to knee surgery with German Sören Halfar filling in at left back. Canadian Julian de Guzman who played against Leverkusen on that position moved back to the midfield, where he got supported by the two defensive midfielder`s Altin Lala and Christoph Dabrowski. German forward Daniel Stendel played on the right wing and Jiri Stajner on the left while Spaniard Thomas Christiansen was spared due to the defensive system. At the home team another player gave his bebut left back: Polish Tomasz Wisio Beim Gastgeber debütierte der junge Pole Wisio.

Bielefeld were threatening from the start in the first 15 minutes against a defensive minded Hannover 96 without creating any danger. It took 27 minutes when Bielefeld came to the first chance after a wide shot from Albanian Fatmir Vata (25 meters), that was saved over the bar throuigh 96-goalie Robert Enke.

Three minutes later Hannover's top scorer Daniel Stendel went ahead with a great goal. After a counter attacke from 96, Dabrowski sent a pass to Chzech Jiri Stajner on the left flank. Stajner perfectly setup Stendel with a long cross on the right wing who did a gala performance: The German forward moved to the left inside the box beating defender Petr Gabriel and right after that Gabriel`s teammate Wisio after he scored from 5 meters into the right corner to 1:0 (30th).

6 minutes later Stendel failed at Bielefeld's goalkeeper Mathias Hain from 10 meters (setup by Stajner). Then German International defender Per Mertesacker got his first yellow card this season after tackling Vata outside the 96-box. The resulting free-kick failed by Ervin Skela near the right post from 17 meters.

Bielefeld's head coach Uwe Rapolder substituted two new player's Detlev Dammeier and Diego Leon in order to put more danger in the offense. The substitution paid immediate dividends, but it was the defender Gabriel who had the chance through a header (57th). Two minutes later Southafrican Delron Buckley tested Enke with a looping cross, but the 96 keeper saved it.

Despite Bielefeld put more pressure on Hannover's defense the former Bielefeld player Christoph Dabrowski coulkd have decided the game: After Lala's shot at the goal failed, Dabrowski shot flatfooted from a tight angle near the right post. (61st). Two minutes later German international Patrick Owomoyela had the chance to equalize, but he shot right into Enke's arms (63rd). The last chances came by Hannover's Stajner and Stendel but the game ended 1:0.

Thanks to a strong defensive effort and a great goal by Daniel Stendel that Hannover 96 earned three important points on the road after a poor performance in the last game against Leverkusen. Man of the Match was Daniel Stendel followed by the strong goalkeeper of Robert Enke. Sören Halfar who gave his Bundesliga debut has shown a solid performance left back after showing nerve's in the first 10 minutes. Hannover moved to fifth in the table and plays on Saturday at home against Borussia Dortmund.

STATISTICS

DSC Arminia Bielefeld: Hain - Owomoyela, Borges ((0. Küntzel), Gabriel, Wisio (46. Dammeier) - Kauf, Langkamp - Pinto (46. Leon), Skela, Buckley - Vata

Hannover 96: Enke - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Halfar - Dabrowski, Lala, de Guzman - Krupnikovic - Stajner (91. Christiansen), Stendel (90.Schneider)

Goals: 0:1 Stendel (30.)
Cautions: Langkamp / Mertesacker
Referee: Dr. Felix Brych
Attendance: 21.439

Picture: Stefan Zwing

96 head coach Ewald Lienen announces 18 man roster for the game against DSC Arminia Bielefeld:

Robert Enke, Frank Juric, Steven Cherundolo, Per Mertesacker, Dariusz Zuraw, Sören Halfar, Danijel Stefulj, Thomas Schneider, Julian de Guzman, Christoph Dabrowski, Altin Lala, Nebojsa Krupnikovic, Vladimir But, Daniel Stendel, Thomas Christiansen, Jiri Stajner, Roman Wallner, and Jiri Kaufman.

Hannover 96 - Bayer Leverkusen
  8 : 10 shots at the goal
  6 :   3 corner kicks
13 : 12 crosses
16 : 19 fouls
  7 :   4 offsides
55% : 45% contacts with the ball
46% : 54% +challenges

Most shots at the goal:
96: Jiri Stajner (3)
Leverkusen: Paul Freier (3)

Most setups:
96: Steven Cherundolo, Nebojsa Krupnicovic (each 3)
Leverkusen: Paul Freier (3)

Most contacts with the ball:
96: Steven Cherundolo (123)
Leverkusen: Juan (81)

Most won challenges:
96: Nebojsa Krupnicovic (73%)
Leverkusen: Jens Nowotny (84%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

Hannover 96 defender Steven Cherundolo talked with 96soccer.com about the game against Bayer Leverkusen:

MP3-file: right-click for download here (176 kb).

Visit Steve's website: http://www.cherundolo.de/

Picture and MP3-Interview done by 96soccer.com moderator Bert Pickert

Hannover 96 midfielder Julian de Guzman talked with 96soccer.com about the game against Bayer Leverkusen:

MP3-file: right-click for download here (288 kb).

Picture and MP3-Interview done by 96soccer.com moderator Bert Pickert

The Reds are beaten at home 0:3 by cool and deadly efficient Bayer Leverkusen.

Ewald Lienen's squad never put up a real fight to please the crowds at this Sunday's official opening fixture in the new AWD-Arena. The home team's chief was troubled by key player's injuries. Defender Michael Tarnat and midfielder Silvio Schroeter were sorely missed in Hannover's regular line-up. Julian de Guzman took over Tarnat's part, with Christoph Dabrowski playing in central midfield position.

Hannover's supporters watched a promising start to a game that turned sour after the 18th minute. Stajner's and Cherundolo's joint effort could have put Hannover in the lead in the 7th. Stendel was denied his good effort from half-left position in the 16th minute by Leverkusen's keeper Butt.

It was one of the opponent's strikers to spoil the party for Hannover's supporters. Freier fooled de Guzman and sent in a sharp cross from the right edge of the goalmouth, finding Voronin in mid-air. The Leverkusen striker nailed the ball into the left corner with a mighty header, leaving Hannover's keeper Robert Enke not the slightest chance for defence.
Hannover didn't suffer from shell shock, though. They tried their best to turn the game around, but failed to create clear chances.

Again it was Leverkusen to dupe Hannover's hopes. In the 36th minute Berbatov's low shot hit home inside the right post. Three Hannover defenders failed to stop the Leverkusen striker scoring from 22 yards. After that the home team were lucky to make it to the interval without any more goals against them.

Both teams returned to the pitch unchanged after the break. A remotely promising start for the Reds petered out without results.
Leverkusen's Paul Freier crushed all hopes for the Reds in the 58th minute. His shot from 25 yards was deflected into goal by unlucky defender Dariusz Zuraw. Enke flew to the near post, but it was too late to save the day.

What followed were 32 minutes of sheer agony for watching fans of Hannover 96, who saw a resigned, remarkably hapless and helpless home team. Leverkusen played coolly and efficiently right through to the end, defending solidly and allowing no further chances for the Reds.

This crushing defeat spoils the party for Hannover 96, celebrating the official opening of the new stadium ahead of the game this Sunday afternoon. The Reds are still hoping in vain for home victory in their third consecutive game now. Hannover drops down to eighth in the table, rather than moving up to fourth position as Hannover's hopefuls had prophesised for this match day. [AS]

Hannover 96: Enke -Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, de Guzman -Lala, Dabrowski -Krupnikovic -Stajner, Stendel, Christiansen - Coach: Ewald Lienen

Bayer Leverkusen: Butt -B. Schneider, Juan, Nowotny, Placente -Ramelow -Freier, Krzynowek -Ponte -Voronin, Berbatov - Coach: Klaus Augenthaler

Goals: 0:1 Voronin (18.), 0:2 Berbatov (36.), 0:3 Freier (58.)

Substitutions: 59. Wallner for Dabrowski - 79. Castro for Voronin, 84. Donovan for Ponte, 85. Babic for Krzynowek

Cautions: yellow cards for Juan, B. Schneider

Venue: AWD-Arena, Hannover
Referee: Dr Wack
Attendance: 38,067

Picture by Bert Pickert

96 head coach Ewald Lienen announces 18 man roster for the game against Bayer Leverkusen:

Robert Enke, Frank Juric, Steven Cherundolo, Per Mertesacker, Dariusz Zuraw, Vinicius Bergantin, Julian de Guzman, Sören Halfar, Altin Lala, Christoph Dabrowski, Danijel Stefulj, Nebojsa Krupnikovic, Vladimir But, Jiri Stajner, Thomas Christiansen, Daniel Stendel, Roman Wallner, Jiri Kaufman

Hannover 96 defender Steven Cherundolo talked with 96soccer.com about the game against Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday:

To download the file, right-click the mp3 link and select save link as... on your computer.

Steven Cherundolo talks to 96soccer.com:
MP3-file: right-click for download here (390 kb).


Visit Steve's website at: http://www.cherundolo.de/

MP3-Interview done by 96soccer.com moderator Bert Pickert

Hannover 96 defender Michael Tarnat will be missing at the game against Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday due to knee injury. He got a surgery today and will be missing at 96 over 4 weeks. Canadian Julian de Guzman will probably take place Tarnat`s position (Then Christoph Dabrowski will play in the midfield instead of Julian).

Check out the new picture from the other prices of our contest here...

96 lost their last friendly match, before starting the second season half, against the danish club Esbjerg FB 2:3 in Ilten (near Hannover).

Hannover 96: Enke - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Tarnat - de Guzman (46. Dabrowski), Krupnikovic, Lala - Leandro (54. Stajner), Christiansen (72. Wallner), Stendel

Goals: 0:1 Fredrik Berglund (55.), 0:2 Fredrik Berglund (59.), 1:2 Christoph Dabrowski (71.), 2:2 Daniel Stendel (74.), 2:3 Jan Kristiansen (86.)

The last test in the training camp (Jerez de la Frontera) on Wednesday, saw Hannover draw 2-all with AZ Alkmaar (leader in the dutch league). 96 head coach Ewald Lienen said: "It was a good game. We needed to increase our performance. We have seen a well organized defence including the young talent Sören Halfar on the left back position." Lienen wants to integrate the German defender at practice, "if it's possible" (Halfar is playing at the youth division in Hannover).

Hannover 96: Juric – Stefulj, Schneider, Vinicius, Halfar – Lala (72. Dabrowski), Agac (72. de Guzman), But, Sousa – Wallner (68.Stajner), Kaufman (68. Leandro)

AZ Alkmaar: Timmer – Mathysen (60. Jaliens), Opdam, de Cler – Kromkamp, Landzaat, Buskermolen (46. Ramzi), Meerdink (46. Lindenbergh) – van Galen (46- El-Khattabi), Perez (68. Sektioui), Huysegems (68. Nelisse)

Goals: 1:0 Sousa (3.), 1:1 Landzaat (FEM, 44.), 2:1 Schneider (61.), 2:2 El-Khattabi (72.)

Hannover 96 lost their 2nd friendly match on Tuesday 0:3 (0:1) against pVgg Greuther Fürth (2nd Bundesliga division). The Reds failed to convert their numerous scoring chances. 96 head coach said: "Despite the loss, I am satisfied with the performance of the "A-team". We had a lot of chances, but we didn't score".

Hannover 96: Enke – Cherundolo (72.Stefulj), Mertesacker (72.Schneider), Zuraw (72. Vinicius), Tarnat (72. Halfar) – Dabrowski (72. Agac), de Guzman (72. But), Krupnikovic (72. Sousa)– Stajner (72.Wolf), Stendel (72.Wallner), Leandro (72. Kaufman)

SpVgg Greuther Fürth: Neuhaus – Dabac (46. Heller), Reichel (46. Votava), Kleine, Westermann (46. Surmann), – Caillas (46. Eigler), Albertz (46. Burkhardt), Page (46. Karl), Hilbert (46. Fuchs) – Rösler (46. Timm), Feinbier (46. Ruman)

Goals: 0:1 Caillas (5.), 0:2 Kleine (72.), 0:3 Ruman (90.)

The first test in the training camp (Jerez de la Frontera) on Saturday, saw Hannover draw 1-all with LR Ahlen. Ahlen had gone into a 1-0 lead in the second half with a free kick by Machado, while Hannover's defender Dariusz Zuraw equalized 15 minutes later.

Hannover 96: Juric (ab 46. Enke) - Stefulj (ab 46. Cherundolo), Agac (ab 46. Schneider), Vinicius (ab 46. Zuraw), Halfar (ab 46. Tarnat) - Dabrowski (ab 46. Lala), But (ab 46 de Guzman), Sousa (ab 46. Krupnikovic) - Wolf (ab 46. Stendel), Wallner (ab 46. Christiansen), Stajner (ab 46. Leandro)

LR Ahlen: Ratajczak (ab 46. Meier) - Hajou (ab 46. Tredup), Djenic (ab 46. Gledson), Thiam (ab 46. Ndjeng), Mikolajczak (ab 46. Muwana) - Sopic (ab 46. Langeneke), Schaefer (ab 46. Bamba), Gorschlueter (ab 46. Paulinho Machado), Radulovic (ab 46. Book) - N`Diaye (ab 46. Svitlica), Bella (ab 46. Omerbegovic)

Goals: 0:1 Paulinho Machado (55.), 1:1 Zuraw (71.)

Hannover 96 won on Tuesday 6:0 against 1. FC Germania Egestorf/Langreder during a friendly match.

Hannover 96, 1st half: Juric (until 65.), Stefulj, Vinicius, Zuraw, Tarnat, de Guzman, Lala, But, Stendel, Christiansen, Leandro

Hannover 96, 2nd half: Schütz (65.), Wolf, Schneider, Diouf, Halfar, Agac, Dabrowski, Sousa, Demircán, Montabell, Wallner

Goals: 0:1 Christiansen (3.), 0:2 But (29.), 0:3 But (32.), 0:4 Christiansen (43.), 0:5 Demircán (52.), 0:6 Agac (79.)

Picture: Stefan Zwing

Hannover 96 at practice this week:

Sunday, 01/02/2005, 11:00 h, [MKA]
Monday, 01/03/2005, 09:30 h, 14:30 h [MKA]
Tuesday, 01/04/2005, 09:30 h, 18:00 friendly against Barsinghausen

Wednesday, 01/05/2005, Journey to Jerez de la Frontera in Spain (training camp), until Friday 01/14/2005

MKA: Mehrkampfanlage (Practice field) behind the AWD Arena