Sunday, June 5th, around 19:50 PM, UEFA-Cup Wildcard Draw (Fairplay-Rating)

Tuesday, June 28th, 15:00 PM, Training start

Sunday, July 3rd, 15:00 PM, test match against Germania Helstorf

Wednesday, July 6th, 19:00 PM, test match against SV Ramlingen

Saturday, July 9th, 15:00 PM, test match against TuS Bega

Sunday, July 10th, 15:00 PM, Oddset-Cup

Tuesday, July 12th until Friday the 22nd, Trainingcamp in Bad Zwischenahn

Thursday, July 14th or Freitag 15th, 15:00 PM, test match against VfB Oldenburg

Monday, July, 18th, test match against NAC Breda or Lokomotive Plovdiv

Thursday, July 21st, test match against NAC Breda or Lokomotive Plovdiv

Saturday, July 23rd, test match against a top team (tbc.)

Saturday, July 30th, 19:30 PM, test match against Twente Enschede

August 5th - 07th, Bundesligastart

The 24 year old German midfielder, who is coming from 1. FSV Mainz 05, has signed a contract for three years with Hannover 96.

Balitsch has played during the Bundesliga season 2001/2002 for his former coach Ewald Lienen at the newly promoted club 1. FC Köln as well. Good luck to Hanno in Hannover!

Diadora has disembarked in the Bundesliga. Thanks to the agreement reached with Hannover 96, the Italian brand, leader in the world of sportswear, launches itself in Germany becoming the official supplier of one of the emerging teams of German championship football. The three-year sponsorship deal, which commences at the beginning of the next season, foresees the supply of technical equipment for team and staff which includes competition, training, and leisure clothing and footwear, other than footballs and various accessories.

Yet, for Diadora, this entails another type of partnership of absolute prestige. Hannover 96 is in fact one of the protagonists of German football. This season, the "Die Roten" – as the Hannover 96 players are known – are confirming the results of the last years which made the squad one of the consolidated realities of the Bundesliga. Hannover 96 can rely on a numerous, passionate fan base, the ultra-modern AWD Arena, home to Hannover 96, which was restructured in 2004 and capable of holding up to 50,000 spectators and will be one of the stadiums in the next World Cup Finals in 2006.

With this agreement, Hannover 96 has become one of the “gems” of Diadora's “One of Eleven” project, which includes some of the most important soccer squads of the world of international football. The list of top Diadora teams is scattered all over the world! The German team links up with Rome (Italy), Palmeiras (Brazil), Real Racing Santander (Spain), the Scottish National team, and Maccabi Tel Aviv (Isreal).

Watch out for the Jerseys soon to get here at 96soccer.com!!!

[Source: www.diadora.com]

The 19 year old German forward, who is coming from Schalke 04, has signed a contract for two years on a loan with 96. Good luck to Michael in Hannover!

Hertha BSC Berlin vs. Hannover 96
 21 : 9 shots
 9 : 4 corner kicks
 29 : 8 crosses
10 : 11 fouls
  3 : 4 offsides
57% : 43% contacts
54% : 46% +challenges

Most shots:
96: Lala, Stajner (2 each)
Berlin: Marcelinho (7)

Most setups:
96: Stajner (2)
Berlin: Neuendorf (4)

Most contacts:
96: Tarnat (85)
Berlin: Marcelinho (89)

Most won challenges:
96: Tarnat (80 %)
Berlin: Simunic (83%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

A great result: Hannover 96 finished their 3rd Bundesliga season on the 10th in the Bundesliga table after promotion. In the end that goalless draw was not much help for both teams. It wasn't 96, but Wolfsburg who qualified for the Inter Toto Cup after a win against Bielefeld (2:1). Berlin had to give away the Champions league place to Werder Bremen.

As always there was an injury list at Hannover 96. The following players were missing: Daniel Stendel, Veljko Paunovic, Leandro Fonseca, Julian de Guzman, Thomas Schneider and Vladimir But. Brazilian defender Vinicius took De Guzman's place in the defence midfield. Swiss International Tranquillo Barnetta, Chechz Jiri Stajner and German Sylvio Schröter were playing upfront. The home team sent his A-team into the battle.

Berlin's strong offense couldn't create many chances against the third best defence in the league. 96 were waiting on counterattack's. The first shot even came by The Reds, but Polish Dariusz Zuraw's shot didn't trouble Berlin's goalkeeper Fiedler (13th). Ten minutes later a header from Berlin's Dick van Burik missed the left post. It just once went dangerous for 96 ahen Rafael missed the ball after a cross by Gilberto in the 33rd. Serbien Nebojsa Krupnikovic's shot from 20 meters over the bar wasn't ea clear chance as well. The first half ended goalless without any highlights.

The home team tried to put more pressure onto the game resulting in the first chance through a powerful shot by Gilberto, but Hannover's goalkeeper Robert Enke saved easily (48th). Luck was on The Red's sidein the 54th when Turkish Yildiray Bastürk's shot missed the left post with 10-inches to spare.

Four minutes later Stajner had the chance taking the lead, but his shot from inside the box went close over the bar. Vinicius setup this chance from the right after a free-kick from Krupnikovic. But then Berlin had his chance going ahead when. Subbed player Madlung nicely lobbed to Bastürk who has beaten Zuraw inside the box, but Bastürk's shot missed the the left post again. Berlin's head coach tried to create more pressure with the forwards Reina und Wichniarek new in the game. But Hannover's defence stood very compact. After a counter-attack from 96 in the 74th minute of play, subbed Chechz striker Jiri Kaufmann shot from a tight angle towards the goal. But Fiedler saved.

Four minutes later Robert Enke showed that he is a first-class player when he saved a shot from Berlin's Wichniarek in the 78th. Finally the game ended goalless.

It was again Hannover's defence that earned this well deserved point on the road. If Ewald Lienen's squad would have finished their counter-attack's in a better way, a win would not be undeserved. Hannover 96 finished the season on the 10th with 45 points and missed qualifying for the Inter Totot Cup. But there is still hope entering the UEFA-Cup: Again no caution for 96, what means The Reds lead the fairness-table in the Bundesliga and has now the chance to be drawn from two out of six. Europe, here we come!

STATISTICS

Hertha BSC Berlin: Fiedler - A. Friedrich, van Burik, Simunic (73. Reina), Fathi (60. Wichniarek) - N. Kovac - Neuendorf, Bastürk, Gilberto - Marcelinho - Rafael (65. Madlung)

Hannover 96: Enke - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Tarnat - Lala, Vinicius - Krupnikovic (80. Dabrowski) - Schröter (68. Kaufman), Barnetta (85. Halfar) - Stajner

Goals: - / -

Cautions: Neuendorf, Kovac / -

Referee: Dr. Helmut Fleischer (Dachau)

Attendance: 74.500 (sold out)

Picture: S. Zwing

96-head coach Ewald Lienen announces 18 man roster for the game against Berlin:

Robert Enke, Frank Juric, Steven Cherundolo, Per Mertesacker, Dariusz Zuraw, Moritz Marheineke, Michael Tarnat, Sören Halfar, Vinicius Bergantin, Altin Lala, Christoph Dabrowski, Nebojsa Krupnikovic, Silvio Schröter, Tranquillo Barnetta, Jiri Stajner, Jiri Kaufman, Thomas Christiansen and Roman Wallner.

The Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman talks about the game against Hamburg and his Brother (english and german):

"Missing out a chance to play in the North Derby had me disappointed the whole week. But after the game, the result had me just as happy as the team..."

http://www.juliandeguzman.ca

The US defender Steven Cherundolo has updated his website:

"This victory against Hamburg was the perfect way to say goodbye to our fans in Hannover...."

www.Cherundolo.de

A jubilant crowd saw The Reds turning the game with one goal down at the sold out AWD-Arena through goals by Stajner and Barnetta in the North Derby against Hamburg 2:1 (1:1). The guests went ahead with a goal from Collin Benjamin in the 13th minute of play. After 96-goalkeeper Robert Enke saved a penalty-kick in the 36th through Hamburg's Beinlich, Czech Jiri Stajner scored the relieving equaliser two minutes before half time (43rd). Subbed player Tranquillo Barnetta decided the game by a brilliant solo in the 87th. Hannover moved to the 10th in the table and is now one point away from the UI-Cup spot.

Two changes were made compared to the lineup against Stuttgart last weekend. 96-coach Ewald Lienen was troubled to replace injured Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman (torn ligament in the outside left ankle) with Brazilian defender Vinicius filling his position. Danish striker Thomas Christiansen moved upfront, with Tranquillo Barnetta dropping to the bench.

The Reds began bravely with forward Thomas Christiansen showing his dangerous skills twice in the first minutes. In the 5th a header by Stajner was saved by Hamburg's goalkeeper Wächter. But in the 13th the shock came over Hannover:

Collin Benjamin scored from the right outside the box leftfooted into the left corner - a brilliant goal, that had a certain effect on Hamburg's play. Now Hamburg played secure and The Reds showed weakness creating the game upfront. Michael Tarnat's powerfull free-kick from 30 meters, woke up the team again. The shot was saved barely with Wächter's fingertips resulting in a corner.

On the opposite Robert Enke showed his skills. Enke was cautioned for a tackle on Andy an Collin Benjamin in the 35th and the referee awarded a penalty for Hamburg. But Hamburg's Stefan Beinlich showed nerves and Enke saved brilliantly. Enke's save gave The Reds a lift resulting in the equaliser. German Silvio Schröter crossed from the right directly to Jiri Stajner (picture) who headed home from inside the box (43rd). Two minutes later the teams went into the break with a tie (1:1).

Hamburg came off the break with the better start. A header by Swiss Raphael Wicky was saved by Enke in the 53rd. Ten minutes later a hammer shot by Emile Mpenza proved Hannover's goalkeeper, Enke saved again. In the 69th a shot by Stajner missed the goal and no more chances were created until the 87th. After a brilliant pass from Nebojsa Krupnikovic subbed player Barnetta has beaten Hamburg's defence on the right and turned the AWD Arena into a madhouse with his solo shooting the ball into the back of the net. Two minutes later Jiri Stajner even had the chance to increase the result, but he failed (89th).

This was already the 4th consecutive win against Hamburg. Ewald Lienen's team wasn't shocked when Hamburg took the lead. The key scene of the game was the penalty-save by Robert Enke. Tranquillo Barnetta who is leaving The Reds to Bayer Leverkusen at the end of this season says goodbye with a brilliant goal which decided the game for Hannover!

STATISTICS

Hannover 96: Enke - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Tarnat - Lala (86. Dabrowski), Krupnikovic, Vinicius - Schröter (67. Kaufman), Christiansen (83. Barnetta), Stajner

Hamburger SV: Wächter - Benjamin, Boulahrouz, van Buyten, Klingbeil (84. Reinhardt) - Jarolim (69. Takahara), Wicky, Moreira (78. Mahdavikia), Beinlich - Barbarez, Mpenza

Goals: 0:1 Benjamin (13.), 1:1 Stajner (43.), 2:1 Barnetta (87.)
Cautions: Enke / Klingbeil, Boulahrouz
Attendance: 49854 (sold out)
Referee: Peter Sippel (Munich)

Picture: O. Vosshage

The US defender Steven Cherundolo has updated his website:

"In Stuttgart has never been easy for us, and this time was no exception..."

www.Cherundolo.de

96-head coach Ewald Lienen announces 18 man roster for the game against Hamburg:

Robert Enke, Frank Juric, Steven Cherundolo, Per Mertesacker, Dariusz Zuraw, Thomas Schneider, Michael Tarnat, Vinicius Bergantin, Danijel Stefulj, Altin Lala, Christoph Dabrowski, Nebojsa Krupnikovic, Silvio Schröter, Tranquillo Barnetta, Jiri Stajner, Jiri Kaufman, Thomas Christiansen and Roman Wallner.

The Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman talks about the game against Stuttgart and his injury on his website (english and german):

"Unfortunately the first suspicion was confirmed! After doing a MRI, the result turned out to be an torn ligament in the outside left ankle ..."

http://www.juliandeguzman.ca

The 28 year old Iranian forward, who is coming from Bayern Munich, has signed today a contract for three years with 96.

Hashemian played 78 Bundesliga games for Bayern Munich, VfL Bochum and Hamburger SV and has scored 26 goals. All the best to Vahid Hashemian with The Reds!!!

Vfb Stuttgart vs. Hannover 96
 18 : 10 shots
 4 : 2 corner kicks
 12 : 5 crosses
14 : 11 fouls
  5 : 5 offsides
55% : 45% contacts
54% : 46% +challenges

Most shots:
96: Zuraw, Tarnat, Schroeter (2 each)
Suttgart: Cacau, Kuranyi (6 each)

Most setups:
96: Krupnikovic (4)
Suttgart: Hleb (7)

Most contacts:
96: Tarnat (77)
Suttgart: Hleb (94)

Most won challenges:
96: Mertesacker (69 %)
Suttgart: Soldo (84%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

Hannover's late goal victory of last week against Nuremberg in mind, Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi took example by netting a late winner for Stuttgart after 88 minutes in a previously stalemate match. Ewald Lienen's squad showed a solid defensive performance and superb efforts in both halves. Canada midfielder Julian de Guzman left the pitch gravely injured.


Matthias Sammer's side missed injured Horst Heldt and suspended Fernando Meira and Silvio Meißner. No change to the Reds' winning team of last week, as strikers Veljko Paunovic, Daniel Stendel and Leandro, midfielder Christoph Dabrowski and defender Vinicius all had to abstain, now joined by Nuremberg hero striker Jiri Kaufman.

Stuttgart's coach Sammer had demanded ruthless attacking of his team before the match, but his players' alleged superiority turned out to be an optical illusion. So after just seven minutes it was Hannover striker Jiri Stajner who launched himself to win a header from Krupnikovic's corner from the right, but his effort went wide of the near post. The next chance fell at the other end midway through the first half, equally from a corner. Bielo-Russia's Aliaksandr Hleb bent the corner-kick for Germany national Kevin Kuranyi, but the striker's dangerous header rebounded off keeper Robert Enke who flapped at the ball. Austria's Martin Stranzl failed to convert with Enke successfully scrambling across his goal and swiping the ball to safety.

Stuttgart dominated possession in the closing period before half-time but created very little as they came up against a wall of red shirts camped on the edge of the Hannover area. Both teams wasted great openings respectively. Stuttgart keeper Timo Hildebrand had to defuse Per Mertesacker's on-target but weak header from Silvio Schroeter's sweetly struck left cross over the top (37). A minute later at the other end strong Hleb sent a pass through to Brazilian striker Cacau whose first effort was blocked by central defender Mertesacker. Cacau managed to gain possession again, by passed Enke but the angle was acute and he lifted his shot over the bar.

The second half started with a great opening for the home side after two minutes. Hleb tackled 96-Captain Altin Lala and fed the ball through to Cacau. The Brazilian fired from 11 yards but his shot went just wide of the left post. Then it became attack against defence. Hannover was simply awesome at the back as they saw off wave after wave of Stuttgart attacks. Central defender Dariusz Zuraw was down on his luck when Krupnikovic's corner from the right dropped perfectly for the Pole. But his point-blank header was met by Christian Tiffert who desperately scraped it off the line (61). In immediate return Hleb's long ball reached Martin Stranzl who looked odds on to bury the ball in an open goal after bypassing Robert Enke on the right. But Albania's Altin Lala watched out, sprinting along and managing a desperate last-second save to a corner. The Reds created further great openings. Three minutes later Canada's Julian de Guzman fired from 25 yards but Timo Hildebrand deflected the sharp shot with a reflex reaction. Ewald Lienen's squad had all the luck midway through the second half when substitute striker Marco Streller hit the bar with his header from three yards. Kuranyi had helped on Cacau's long ball with another precise header for the Swiss striker. Eight minutes before full-time Silvio Schroeter tried to lift the ball over Stuttgart's keeper Hildebrand from centre-right position but the effort went just over the bar. Kevin Kuranyi also failed to give his side the lead shooting wide of target three minutes before the end.

Both sides seemed to settle for a goalless draw, but not Kuranyi. He relieved his home side by netting his 13th goal this season. Hildebrand's goal-kick found Streller who helped the ball on to Markus Babbel. The Stuttgart defender aimed his precise header for Kuranyi in the right corner of the box, who kept calm and fired a low shot goalwards from nine yards into the far corner, giving his side the lead and a late winner.

After a highly disciplined defensive performance in the first half Hannover sustained Stuttgart's pressure in the second and created great openings for themselves. Polish defender Dariusz Zuraw should have given Hannover the lead. The UI-Cup seems a lost cause, but Stuttgart can keep on dreaming about Champions League participation.

Stuttgart stays on course for Champions League, but Hannover is struck twice by this bitter away defeat. Not only have Hannover wasted a point, but Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman might have played his last match for Hannover. De Guzman had to leave the pitch with suspected tendon rupture in the 69th, and as he is joining Spanish team La Coruna after this season, his active days in Hannover might be over. All the best to 'Juli', and a quick recovery!

STATISTICS

VfB Stuttgart: Hildebrand - Hinkel, Zivkovic, Babbel, Lahm - Soldo - Tiffert, Stranzl - A. Hleb - Kuranyi, Cacau - Trainer: Sammer
Hannover 96: Enke - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Tarnat - de Guzman, Lala - Krupnikovic - Schröter, Stajner, Barnetta - Trainer: Lienen

Goals: 1:0 Kuranyi (88., rightfooted, setup Babbel)
Substitutions: 64. Streller for Tiffert, 81. Élson for Cacau, 90+2. Delpierre für Kuranyi - 69. Halfar for de Guzman, 77. Christiansen for Barnetta
Referee: Brych, Dr.
Attendance: 45000
Cautions: Kuranyi, Stranzl - Stajner

Picture: S. Zwing

The Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman talks about the game against Nuremberg on his website (english and german):

"A well deserved win on a sunday afternoon against Nuremberg in front of a crowd of 40,000 secured a spot in the bundesliga for next season..."

http://www.juliandeguzman.ca

Hannover 96 vs. 1. FC Nuremberg
20 : 10 shots
 5 : 6 corner kicks
16 : 4 crosses
14 : 16 fouls
 4 : 4 offsides
58% : 42% contacts
49% : 51% +challenges

Most shots:
96: Mertesacker, Krupnikovic, Schroeter, Stajner (3 each)
Nuremberg: Banovic (3)

Most setups:
96: Krupnikovic (6)
Nuremberg: S. Mueller, Banovic, Cantaluppi (2 each)

Most contacts:
96: Krupnikovic (87)
Nuremberg: Nikl (55)

Most won challenges:
96: Mertesacker (72 %)
Nuremberg: Nikl (76%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

Czech striker Jiri Kaufman scores a late winner (87) and ends negative series of three consecutive defeats. With a well-deserved victory over 1. FC Nuremberg Hannover 96 stays in premier division of the Bundesliga. There is still hope for the UI-Cup with only three points missing. Congratulations to coach Ewald Lienen and his squad!

Bad news for Ewald Lienen's starting line up though: five strikers were missing due to injuries. Veljko Paunovic, Thomas Christiansen, Daniel Stendel, Leandro and young local talent Denis Wolf were missing from the roster. Swiss midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta played left forward, replacing Jiri Kaufman. Midfielder Silvio Schroeter played right forward, with Czech striker Jiri Stajner in central position. Nuremberg's coach Wolfgang Wolf had to replace midfielder Maik Wagefeld with Croatian Ivica Banovic ersetzen.

Nuremberg got off to a better start with self-confidence. Seven minutes into the match Swiss midfielder Mario Cantaluppi sends a corner kick for Nuremberg into the box, where "Phantom" striker Marek Mintal tries to fool Hannover's keeper Robert Enke, but fails with a header from 12 yards (7). Ten minutes later though Enke gives all he got lifting Banovic's seven-yards hammer to the near post with a spectacular save over the crossbar (17). Hannover got stronger: two minutes later Serbian playmaker Nebojsa Krupnikovic sends a distance shot over the crossbar. But both teams showed high-class play only minutes later. First defender Per Mertesacker fails to place his header from six yards in Raphael Schaefer's net (27): Jiri Stajner had set up this chance with his beautiful cross. On the other side of the pitch Nuremberg striker Stefan Kie\337ling tests Robert Enke with a low shot from 20 yards, but Enke dives to the right corner of the net and shows a brilliant save (28). Jiri Stajner shows nerves when his swivel shot from 13 yards is deflected by Schaefer (29). The first half's best chance for the Reds involved replacement strikers Schroeter and Barnetta: the Swiss passes a dead-on target through-ball to Schroeter on half-left position who storms ahead and is only facing up to the away team's keeper. Schaefer only just manages to deflect Schroeter's seven-yarder with his foot (31). The match got more and more unattractive afterwards with inaccurate passing on both sides. Out of the blue Hannover had their best chance of the day so far only three minutes before the interval: Schroeter sends a cross into goalmouth, Mario Cantaluppi slips and Stajner is able to grab the ball, but has to turn from awkward position, yet manages to control the ball but is denied his six-yards effort by Nuremberg's alert keeper.

Both teams returned to the pitch unchanged, sadly the match deteriorated by the minute. Nuremberg tries everything to destroy play in midfield, and has another slight chance two minutes after the break when Norwegian midfielder Thommy Larsen's distance effort flies high over the crossbar (47). Albanian 96-captain Altin Lala once more is denied his first Bundesliga goal ever when Schaefer deflects his courageous shot from 20 yards to a corner (58). Nuremberg striker Markus Daun misses goal with his header (72), and both teams seem to settle for a goalless draw, when three minutes before the final whistle everything changes with a blow to Nuremberg's defensive efforts. Playmaker Nebojsa Krupnikovic fires a rocket from 22 yards at Schaefer's goal, the Nuremberg keeper can't do anyothing but bounce off the ball onto substitute Jiri Kaufman's left foot. The Czech striker is too polite to turn down the kind invitation and drills the ball into the lower right corner of the net, putting 96 in the more than deserved and relieving lead. Two more chances for the Reds for Lala (89) and Kaufman from 16 yards (90), but nothing to change the final result.

An exciting football weekend comes to an end: German record champions Bayern Munich prematurely secure their 19th German title with a 4:0 away victory over Kaiserslautern whilst contender Schalke has to give up all hopes for the trophy drawing 3:3 at home against Leverkusen.

With a hard-earned but well-deserved victory against league climber Nuremberg, Hannover goes up to position ten in the Bundesliga table. The Reds make sure with three points that they keep out of this season's relegation fight, whereas Nuremberg stays in dangerously low regions in the table. Another three points keep 96 apart from a UI-Cup placement, so the Reds can keep on dreaming.

STATISTICS

Hannover 96: Enke - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Tarnat - de Guzman - Lala - Krupnikovic - Schröter, Barnetta, Stajner - Coach: Lienen

1. FC Nürnberg: Schäfer - D. Reinhardt, Cantaluppi, Nikl, L. Müller - Larsen - Banovic, S. Müller - Mintal - Kießling, Daun - Coach: Wolf

Goals: 1:0 Kaufman (87th, leftfooted, setup by Krupnikovic)
Substitutions: 70. Kaufman for Barnetta, 78. Wallner for Schröter, 82. Vinicius for Tarnat - 61. Lagerblom for Banovic, 72. Wiblishauser for Daun, 79. Schroth for Kießling
Referee: Gagelmann
Attendance: 40017
Cautions: Lala - D. Reinhardt, S. Müller, Lagerblom, Cantaluppi