Werder Bremen vs Hannover 96
15 : 15 shots on goal
2   : 13 corners
8 : 12 crosses
53% : 47% possesion
49% : 51% tackles won
20 : 17 fouls
6 : 5 offsides

Most shots on goal:
96: P. Mertesacker, C. Dabrowski, H. Balitsch (3)
Bremen: T. Borowski (5)

Most setups:
96: M. Tarnat (6)
Bremen: M. Klose (5)

Most ball contact:
96: J. Stajner (84)
Bremen: C. Schulz (83)

Percentage of tackles won:
96: S. Schroeter (80%)
Bremen: T. Frings (80%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

Lautern - Gladbach 3:0
Bielefeld - Nuremberg 0:0

Hannover have to live through their personal 'Black Saturday'. A strange 0-5 (0-2) defeat is the outcome of today's fixture against Northerners SV Werder Bremen. Despite a promising start for Hannover, playing their possibly best half of the season, Hannover went two down in the last three minutes before the interval through flattering goals from Nelson Valdez (43min) and Johan Micoud (45min+1). After the break Bremen closed the deal through two goals from Valdez (52min, 81min) and Miroslav Klose (53min).

Bremen's head coach Thomas Schaaf was able to include Johan Micoud and Torsten Frings on his team sheet, recovered from injuries. Finnish international Petri Pasanen and Paraguay's Nelson Valdez replaced German international Patrick Owomoyela and Croatia's Ivan Klasnic. Hannover's head coach Peter Neururer relied on last week's winning squad against Cologne.

Hannover get off to a furious start and determine play in the first 35 minutes of the match. Only Bremen's keeper Tim Wiese denies every effort on the way to the lead for the Reds. Christoph Dabrowski picks up Thomas Brdaric's pass, but his level shot from 13 metres is parried with a reflex save (11min). Again it is Dabrowski losing the battle against Bremen's Tim Wiese, when the midfielder's point-blank header from Michael Tarnat's corner is saved by Bremen's controversial keeper (17min). Brdaric's distance effort from Altin Lala's through ball is saved (21min), just like Per Mertesacker's mighty header from Tarnat's right corner kick from four metres a minute later: Wiese steers the ball with a spectacular reflex towards the crossbar's underside, but the ball bounces back onto the pitch, and not into the goal (22min). But also the Reds themselves are to be held responsible for not converting, as is Vahid Hashemian hesitating to put away Jiri Stajner's beautiful cross (25min). Wiese also parries one of Tarnat's feared free kick hammers (29min).

Bremen substituting Croatian international Jurica Vranjes for injured Thorsten Frings marks the turning point of the match (33min). Shortly after Bremen have their first serious on-goal attempt through Tim Borowski (35min). 3,700 travelling 96-supporters fear for the worst, watching helplessly as Bremen start to struggle back from the bottom of their pit. Bremen's two flattering goals before half-time happen out of the blue: Micoud tries to cross to Klose from the left, but both Klose and his marker Mertesacker miss the ball. Keeper Robert Enke and centre-back Dariusz Zuraw are foxed by this, but not Nelson Valdez alone in the middle, who cooly converts this unexpected gift (43min). But this is only the beginning: a steep ball into Hannover's area is intercepted by Klose, who wrestles free of marker Zuraw. Klose shoots at goal, hits Mertesacker's hand, who is inside the area, the ball bounces back to Micoud, who benefits from the utter confusion and converts his lucky shot from 17 metres with a little help from Mertesacker's heel, who, to make things worse, deflects the ball ahead of keeper Enke's attempted save. Referee Kinhoefer decides on advantage for the hand ball, not on penalty, so it's a regular goal (45min+1).

0-2

Hannover disintegrate after the break. Daniel Jensen sends Bremen's first warning from seven metres high over the crossbar (48min), but little later Micoud's pass into the back of Hannover's defence finds Klose on the left, who advances on Enke, but Klose crosses to better-positioned Valdez on the right, who finalises his second goal today from acute angle (52min). Klose converts Bremen's next effort himself after shaking off Mertesacker easily, adding to his impressive total of now 19 goals, which makes him top scorer of this Bundesliga season (53min).

Bremen slow the match, and allow for Hannover attempting to bite back. But neither Mertesacker's header from seven metres, going wide of the left post (61min), nor Stajner's effort (64min) find their way into the net. So Bremen put on the finishing touch: Borowski crosses to Valdez, and the Paraguayan forward lobs the ball over beaten Enke into the right corner (81min), summing up his overall result of three goals in one match.

There rarely was a greater difference between Hannover's performance and the final outcome of a match. The Reds play a great first half, but fall back through undeserved goals against. Bremen's keeper Tim Wiese is man of the match in the first half, denying every Hannover effort. Centre-back German international Per Mertesacker, normally unflappable, experiences his very own 'Black Saturday', being involved in three goals against. Yet another fixture when Hannover fail to capitalise from their many great chances in the game's first 35 minutes.

Today's disastrous result is Hannover's worst defeat since re-joining Bundesliga in 2002. To add to the Reds' frustration, Hannover have to make do without Michael Tarnat in the next fixture against Bielefeld, the left-back serving fifth-yellow card suspension.

Werder Bremen: Wiese - Pasanen, Fahrenhorst, Naldo, Schulz - Frings (32. Vranjes), D. Jensen, Borowski, Micoud (70. Owomoyela) - Klose (79. Klasnic), Valdez

Hannover 96: Enke - Cherundolo (46. Schroeter), Mertesacker, Zuraw, Tarnat - Lala (71. Sousa), Balitsch, Dabrowski, Stajner - Hashemian, Brdaric

Goals: 1:0 Valdez (43., Micoud), 2:0 Micoud (45+1), 3:0 Valdez (52., Klose), 4:0 Klose (53., Micoud), 5:0 Valdez (81., Borowski)

Bookings: Vranjes / Brdaric, Balitsch, Mertesacker, Tarnat

Referee: T. Kinhöfer (Herne)

Attendance: 41.646 (sold out)

96 head coch Peter Neururer has announced the following team for the match against Werder Bremen.

Enke, Juric, Cherundolo, Troest, Zuraw, Mertesacker, Tarnat, Vinicius, Balitsch, Lala, Dabrowski, Sousa, Schröter, Stajner, Brdaric, Hashemian , Christiansen and Delura.


Possible line-ups:

SV Werder Bremen:
Wiese
Schulz, Naldo, Fahrenhorst, Owomoyela
Vranjes, Borowski, Jensen, Micoud
Klasnic, Klose

Hannover 96:
Enke
Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Tarnat
Balitsch, Lala, Dabrowski, Stajner
Brdaric (Christiansen), Hashemian (Christiansen)

Striker Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson signed a contract with Hannover 96 which will keep him at the club from the beginning of the new season 2006/2007 until the summer of 2009. The Iceland international who is coming from the Swedish club Halmstads BK has been shown in action at 23 matches (16 goals and top scorer last season) in the Swedish elite league. We are looking forward seeing Gunnar for three years in the 96-dress.

Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson

Nationality: Iceland
Position: Forward
Born: 04/01/1982
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 77 Kg
Former Clubs: Halmstads BK, IB Vestmannaeyjar

Hannover 96 vs 1. FC Cologne
20 : 4 shots at goal
11   : 3 corners
24 : 9 crosses
55% : 45% possesion
52% : 48% +challenges
22 : 16 fouls
5 : 7 offsides

Most shots at goal:
96: T. Brdaric (6)
Cologne: Evanilson, Alpay, Springer, Scherz (1 each)

Most setups:
96: J. Stajner (6)
Cologne: A. Streit (2)

Most ball possesion:
96: S. Cherundolo (76)
Cologne: Alpay, A. Streit (59)

Most won challenges:
96: P. Mertesacker (82%)
Cologne: M. Matip (62%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

Bayern - Schalke 3:0
Hertha - Bielefeld 1:0

The Reds drop down to the 7th position in the standings.

Hannover celebrate today's 1-0 (1-0) victory against 1. FC Cologne after four consecutive matches without triumph. Harmless Cologne, though threatened with relegation in bottom-of-the-table position, never put up a real fight against the Reds. Hannover secure their home win with a goal through Iranian international Vahid Hashemian in the 39th minute. 96 climb to 6th position in the Bundesliga table, keeping their 'international option' open. Supporters cheer forward Daniel Stendel, who returns to the pitch after an eleven-months injury break.

Head coach Peter Neururer saw no reason for changes to the Hannovarian lineup after last week's goalless Duisburg draw. Quite on the contrary Cologne's Swiss head coach Hanspeter Latour. He ordered a complete reshuffle to his relegation-threatened squad: suspended Marco Streller and Christian Lell both absent, indisposed star striker German international Lukas Podolski on the bench, the struggling Swiss called to arms Sinkiewicz, Springer, Schindzielorz, Szabics, Scherz...and Brazilian Evanilson. The former Dortmund defender debuting for the league climber, while Cullmann, Zivkovic and Grammozis dropped to the bench.

Hannover dominate possession and the match right from the starting whistle. The Reds create opportunities galore, but fail to capitalise from their glaring superiority for most of the first half. Thomas Brdaric picks up Jiri Staner's left cross, shakes off marker Sinkiewicz, but his header from 10 metres goes wide of the right post (5min). Little later Steven Cherundolo's long ball across the pitch finds the same Brdaric at the edge of the area, but the German forward cannot benefit from Alexander Bade's mistake. The Cologne keeper has left his post too early for the advancing Brdaric, who sends his daring shot from 16 metres flying over the crossbar (12min). Hashemian's cross finds left wing-back Michael Tarnat, who rids himself of Alpay and Matip, but his pivoting left-footer from 11 metres is denied by alert Cologne keeper Bade (19min). Brdaric's header from promising position goes wide (20min). Right-back defender Steven Cherundolo is denied by Bade, who saves the American international's forceful free kick (25min). Per Mertesacker's header from Stajner's cross drips onto the goal top (35min). Christoph Dabrowski is home alone with Bade in point-blank range, but aims the ball straight for the keepers saving arms (38min). The crowd of well over 37,000 groan in agony faced with Hannover's inability to convert. But only seconds later the tension is relieved: Tarnat starts down the left and crosses; Evanilson's botched defensive header lands at Stajner's feet; the Czech forward immediately helps the ball on to Brdaric, approaching goalmouth, but Bade parries the striker's hard level shot. The rebound ricochets off to Vahid Hashemian on the right corner of the keeper's box, and the Iranian hammers the ball into the net in an explosive release of tension and frustration (39min). Cologne have their only real opportunity before the interval through unmarked Evanilson, who misses the left post from 12 metres with a pathetic effort (42min). Shortly after it's the break, the home side savouring their highly deserved lead.

1:0

The lead far from being comfortable, Hannover dominate play and possession after the break, but slow their pace. Brdaric almost converts a clumsy Cologne defensive header from the left edge of the keeper's box, but again Bade is on his toes (53min). Five minutes later the Reds are nearly punished for their slapdash on-target actions: Evanilson crosses to unmarked Swiss international Ricardo Cabanas, who sends his effort from ten metres wide (58min). An absence of highlights for the next 20 minutes, as Cologne shows no signs of pricking up their ears. The hosts launch their final offensive towards the very end of the match. Stajner's header from six metres from Hanno Balitsch's right cross brushes the crossbar (82min), Dabrowski misses target after combined play involving substitute Silvio Schroeter and Tarnat from 11 metres (84min). Balitsch lobs Mertesacker's through-ball over the Cologne keeper from a tight left angle, but Matthias Scherz scrapes the ball from the line (86min). Substitute Thomas Christiansen is advancing fast on Bade, about to wrap up the game in its last minute, but the forward's shot from 13 metres is denied by the keeper's reflex save. A home victory, but not an unchallenged one.

Cologne's disappointing performance aside, the final result was highly deserved for 96. But the outcome of today's fixture could have been much more favourable for the Reds with a bit more determination and care. Three points keep Hannover's UEFA Cup aspirations simmering, and supporters celebrate the home victory along with Daniel Stendel's return to the pitch after a long troublesome injury break.

Hannover 96: Enke - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Tarnat - Balitsch, Lala, Dabrowski, Stajner (90. Stendel) - Hashemian (77. Schroeter), Brdaric (69. Christiansen)

1. FC Cologne: Bade - Alpay, Sinkiewicz, Matip - Springer (81. Epstein), Cabanas, Schindzielorz (56. Grammozis), Evanilson, Streit - Scherz, Szabics (56. Podolski)

Goals: 1:0 Hashemian (39., Brdaric)
Bookings: Dabrowski / Schindzielorz, Szabics
Referee: Günter Perl (Munich)
Attendance: 37,214

Hamburg - Lautern 3:0
Schalke - Frankfurt 2:0

Silvio Schroeter has signed a new contract which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2008. The German forward who came 2003 to The Reds has been shown in action at 40 Bundesliga matches for Hannover (3 goals). We are looking forward seeing "Sylle" for two more years in the 96-dress.

Silvio Schroeter

Born: 06/29/1979
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 71 Kg
Former clubs: Energie Cottbus, Dynamo Dresden, Traktor Radeburg
BL-matches: 85
BL-goals: 4

MSV Duisburg vs Hannover 96
11 : 12 shots on goal
3   : 9 corners
9 : 14 crosses
49% : 51% possesion
55% : 45% +challenges
12 : 26 fouls
13 : 9 offsides

Most shots on goal:
96: T. Brdaric (4)
Duisburg: A. Ahanfouf (3)

Most setups:
96: J. Stajner, M. Tarnat (4 each)
Duisburg: A. Ahanfouf, M. Anfang (3 each)

Most ball possesion:
96: S. Cherundolo (69)
Duisburg: A. Meyer (60)

Most won challenges:
96: M. Tarnat (64%)
Duisburg: R. Tjikuzu (70%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

Hannover 96 have to be content with a goalless draw against league climber MSV Duisburg in Saturday's fixture. The pitiful state of the pitch was not the only thing to worry about. After Duisburg's first fifteen minutes of fame the visitors controlled proceedings without being able to capitalise. Forward Thomas Brdaric misses his best opportunity in the 81st minute. Head coach Peter Neururer's Reds keep waiting for a three-pointer in four consecutive matches.

The hosts change their line-up on four positions after last week's devastating 0-3 defeat in Nuremberg. Duisburg's head coach Juergen Kohler, German World Cup winner of 1990, replaces Wolters and Aygun with Thomas Baelum and Alexander Meyer in defence. German-born Moroccan international forward Abdelaziz Ahanfouf takes over from Lavric (flu). Markus Anfang replaces Tararache (yellow-red card) in midfield. Duisburg have to make do without Biliskov (red card) and Dirk Lottner (injured). 96-Coach Peter Neururer is happy to welcome back defender Michael Tarnat from an injury break in left wing-back position and Hanno Balitsch in midfield (after serving fifth-yellow suspension). Vinicius and Jonas Troest drop to the bench.

Hannover play with three forwards against Duisburg, who are currently fighting relegation. Nevertheless the hosts have the better start on a sorry-looking wintery pitch, and create their first opportunity after three minutes. Marco Caliguri loses marker Dariusz Zuraw on the right and crosses to Ahanfouf at the right post, but the Moroccan forward is denied by Robert Enke, who deflects the ball to a corner. Hannover's supporters have to wait 12 minutes for some on-goal action, alas after a set play. Tarnat's free kick finds Christoph Dabrowski, whose header is helped on by Thomas Brdaric, missing the left post. Another 12 minutes, and Brdaric plays a through-ball to Tarnat, but the defender's 14 metre hammer is just parried by alert MSV keeper Georg Koch. Duisburg have the next attack move through Ahanfouf, who shakes off markers Jiri Stajner and Altin Lala, but Enke saves the striker's shot from 17 metres (24min). Another 10 minutes, and Vahid Hashemian's effort is denied by Koch (35min). Strong Namibian international, Razundara Tjikuzu, misses Duisburg's last opening in the first half, when his shot from 13 metres goes wide of the right post (41min). A goalless draw, and it is half-time.

0:0

The second helping of the match tastes only slightly better than the first. Play suffers from inaccurate passing on both sides and questionable offside decisions. But Hannover gain more possession and create opportunities, again from dead ball situations. Tarnat's free kick reaches Brdaric, whose mighty header from the six yard box forces 'Zebra'-keeper Koch to a point-blank save (53min). Despite their dominance the Reds fail to penetrate Duisburg's dense defence lines. The best chance for the winning goal has Thomas Brdaric, when Jiri Stajner's beautiful pass from the edge of the centre circle reaches the German forward just before the area in full stride. Brdaric storms ahead, overlooking better-positioned and unmarked teammate Thomas Christiansen on the left, and cannot embarrass advancing keeper Koch with his level shot from ten metres (81min). Hannover's fourth striker of the match, substitute Thomas Christiansen, who is 33 today, could have had his birthday goal in his 100th Bundesliga match … Duisburg's final effort involves Anfang, Ahanfouf and van Houdt, whose pivoting shot from beyond the spot brushes past the left post (83min). Koch denies Bradric a last time two minutes later, and it's all over.

Hannover are today's better team in the goalless draw with Bundesliga's last but one, but fail to capitalise from too few opportunities. Threatened by looming relegation, league climber Duisburg battle through with strong defence effort and Dunkirk spirit. The Reds though are still hoping for their first win in four consecutive matches, and drop to ninth in the table.

MSV Duisburg: G. Koch - Tjikuzu, Moehrle, Baelum, A. Meyer - Caligiuri, Anfang, Bodzek, van Houdt - Kurth, Ahanfouf - Coach: Kohler

Hannover 96: Enke - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Tarnat - Balitsch, Lala, Dabrowski - Stajner, Hashemian, Brdaric - Coach: Neururer

Substitutions:
87. Ahn for van Houdt
-------------------------
62. Vinicius for Tarnat
75. Christiansen for Lala

Referee: Sippel
Attendance: 20,000
Bookings: Bodzek, Kurth - Hashemian, Vinicius

M'gladbach - Bielefeld 2:0
Frankfurt - Wolfsburg 1:1

The Reds drop down to the 8th position in the standings.

Hannover 96 vs FC Schalke 04
16 : 9 shots on goal
6   : 7 corners
17 : 10 crosses
56% : 44% possesions
50% : 50% +challenges
14 : 13 fouls
1 : 6 offsides

Most shots on goal:
96: T. Brdaric (4)
Schalke: M. Azaouagh, Z. Bajramovic (2 each)

Most setups:
96: J. Stajner (5)
Schalke: L. Kobiashvili (4)

Most ball possesions:
96: S. Cherundolo (93)
Schalke: L. Kobiashvili (67)

Most won challenges:
96: P. Mertesacker (70%)
Schalke: M. Krstajic (79%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

The German Football League (DFL) has announced the exact dates and kick off times for the Bundesliga days 27-29. Hannover 96 has been given two Saturday matches.

27th day: Sat, 03/25/2006, 15.30 CET SV Werder Bremen - Hannover 96
28th day: Sun, 04/02/2006, 17.30 CET Hannover 96 - DSC Arminia Bielefeld
29th day: Sat, 04/08/2006, 15.30 CET 1. FSV Mainz 05 - Hannover 96


Click here for the whole season!