Northern derby against old acquaintances Hannover

Hannover 96, one of Germany’s traditional sides, have been a mainstay in the top two divisions of German football for the past half-century. Formed in 1896, hence the name, the club has some 23,000 members, and is the biggest club in terms of members in Lower Saxony, competing alongside bitter rivals Eintracht Braunschweig (3rd division) and VfL Wolfsburg (Bundesliga).  After relegation to the second tier in 2015/16, the Black, White and Greens managed to bounce straight back up, and survived comfortably in the 2017/18 season. However, a disappointing start last season proved fatal for manager André Breitenreiter and, with only eleven points collected by Christmas-time, it was always an uphill battle for former HSV manager Thomas Doll to turn it around. The club’s relegation to the second tier was confirmed with one game to play. 

The club’s disappointing end to its two-year stint in the Bundesliga has carried over into the start of the new campaign. An opening day loss to Stuttgart was followed up by a 1-1 home draw against Jahn Regensburg and then a 3-0 victory away to Wehen Wiesbaden. Just when it was looking like the Hanoverians were picking up a head of steam, they crashed out of the DFB Pokal at the first hurdle in Karlsruhe, and last time out played out a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Greuther Fürth. Mirko Slomka will be looking to arrest the trend and get one over his old employers at the Volksparkstadion on Sunday.

Dieter Hecking was able to confirm to the waiting journalists at Friday’s press conference that Aaron Hunt had recovered from his adductor problems and would be available for selection on Sunday. Timo Letschert is making good progress and was able to take part in training with the rest of the team on Friday, with Hecking and the rest of his coaching staff planning to give the Dutch international a half of football next Thursday against Wolfsburg. Ewerton and Christoph Moritz remain long-term injury concerns with no set return date at this moment in time. For Hannover, young star Linton Maina has adductor muscle problems of his own and misses out, whilst long-term candidates Sebastian Jung, Niklas Tarnat and Timo Hübers won’t be travelling to the Volksparkstadion.

Former Hannover manager Hecking will be looking for a complete performance from his charges, something that, despite the more than positive start to the season, has up to this point been lacking. Last time out in Baden-Württemberg the Rothosen produced a stellar effort for 70 minutes, only to see a lack of concentration let Karlsruhe back into the game, eventually running out 4-2 winners. The last game at the Volksparkstadion saw a lethargic first-half showing go unpunished by Bochum, only for the pressure to be cranked up in the second half and Lukas Hinterseer’s 60th-minute winner to be enough to see off the Ruhr valley club. Hinterseer, involved in all of the last four goals scored by the Hamburg club, will be looking to carry his strong personal form into the international week, capping a successful week personally for the Austrian, who has been called up to his national squad for the first time in almost three years. 

Manager Hecking’s thoughts on Sunday’s clash: “We came out of pre-season strongly and I'm pleased with the first four league games. Karlsruhe pressed strongly for an equaliser on Sunday but that the team hit back with a fourth shows their mental strength and cohesion. We’re going to need that on Sunday as Hannover have a lot of Bundesliga experience. Things haven't quite fallen into place for them just yet, but I'm certain that they will improve week-on-week, because of the quality that they have.”