2. Bundesliga 2022/23 MD25 Preview: Eintracht Braunschweig vs Hannover 96
Niedersachsen, a hotbed for football and host to one of the most tense rivalries in Germany. However, despite this, these sides have only faced off nine times since the turn of the century. On Sunday, Hannover 96 are hoping to finally score their first win of 2023 when they travel to the Eintracht-Stadion to take on bitter rivals Eintracht Braunschweig.
Die Löwen have had a rough run of late, one point in their last five games sees Braunschweig drop into 17th and automatic relegation. Last time out, Eintracht were dismantled late in Nürnberg as goals from Florian Hübner and Jan Gyamerah ensured the Niedersachsen side would succumb to defeat.
Hannover have been in equally poor form, prior to last week Die Roten had only managed two points in the Rückrunde coming against Jahn Regensburg and Greuther Fürth. It didn’t get any better on the weekend, where they were denied two goals thanks to VAR in a frustrating 1:1 draw against Hansa Rostock.
Two teams in desperate need of win, the question is who will? We seek to find these answers in this weekend's 2. Bundesliga match of the week preview.
Last time they met
Hannover 96 1:1 Eintracht Braunschweig
H96: (77’ Havard Nielsen)
EBS: (69’ Anthony Ujah)
The first meeting between the two sides on Matchday 8 was tightly contested and went as we expected. Hannover would control the line share of possession whilst Braunschweig looked to exploit the space on the break.
This is exactly how Braunschweig were able to put pressure on Hannover. But the first big chance fell to Hannover’s Nicholò Tresoldi, presented with an excellent opportunity his effort on goal curled out of play.
Both goalkeepers Ron-Robert Zieler and Jasmin Fejzic produced fantastic displays with the duo making four saves apiece. It was going to take something special to break the deadlock and it would be Braunschweig who put themselves in front. After Hannover failed to clear the danger, Danilo Wiebe’s excellent first time cross found Anthony Ujah as he scored his first goal for Braunschweig.
However, this was a microcosm of Eintracht’s early season and their inability to hold a lead. Cedric Teuchert managed to just keep the ball in play and he found Havard Nielsen to bring the scores level. Hannover almost took all three points with the last kick of the game when Sebastian Kerk’s effort hit the top of the netting.
Key players
In a game of such importance, it’s hard not to look past the goalkeepers as the ones who can be the difference in who comes out on top in the Niedersachsen Derby. Let’s take a look at the titans between pipes.
Jasmin Fejzic
The leading in the locker room and out on the pitch, if there is a player who bleeds Eintracht Braunschweig it’s goalkeeper Jasmin Fejzic.
This is Fejzic’s second stint with Eintracht Braunschweig, and to be truthful this season has been a bit up and down for the Bosnian. In spite of this, Fejzic has played a pivotal role in helping Braunschweig stay in the hunt for survival.
Fejzic has made 67 saves this season, an average of 3.1 per game. Which statistically doesn’t sound too impressive when you consider he’s conceded 37 goals this campaign. But, we should also consider the revolving door of defensive combinations Fejzic has had in front of him. Out of the squad that have featured for Braunschweig this season, eight different centre backs have played.
Not to say Fejzic isn’t guilty of the odd howler, but how he plays will be vital to Braunschweig’s success on Sunday and for the remainder of the season.
Ron-Robert Zieler
Hannover possesses a former German international, a World Cup and the busiest goalkeeper in the 2. Bundesliga. That is Ron-Robert Zieler. In the Hinrunde, Zieler was absolutely on fire and that correlated in Hannover’s early season success which saw Die Roten head into the extended winter break sitting pretty in 5th with the 2nd best defence in the league.
However, since the new year Zieler has been kept busy and thus, the concession of goals has become more frequent. 14 goals conceded from the opening 7 games of the Rückrunde has meant Hannover have slid into 10th place and out of contention for promotion.
Zieler himself hasn’t been the issue entirely, leading the league in saves with 112 at an average of 4.6 per game. That’s 20 more total saves than the next goalkeeper Markus Kolke and nearly his opposite number on Sunday.
The problem lies in defence and midfield, but with Zieler in goal Hannover despite their winless run in 2023 have a chance.
From the coaches
The pre-game press conferences were completed on Friday, here’s what they had to say.
Michael Schiele
"The training ground is filling up. Filip Benkovic is back. It's nice to be able to draw more from the full again. Together with Behrendt, these are experienced players who, with their routine, can sometimes be thrown in."
"Yesterday's action was very ugly. The experts for the reconnaissance are from the police. I think the guys are capable of playing and can turn the situation into positive energy, even if it doesn't go unnoticed."
"It's not a game like any other, but one with a high level of explosiveness. I concentrate on the sporting things that I can influence. It is important that we all have a clear head so that we can also channel the emotions around us."
"We've come back so many times and have shown a lot of morality. The team has a big heart. The fans tear up every game for us. On Sunday, sparks will fly again from both sides."
"I feel absolute trust in the club. This was confirmed with the contract extension with a certain term before the second half of the season. We can work in peace and prepare for the game on Sunday, but we also know that important points are at stake."
"We are definitely at eye level. We know what we can do at home on Hamburger Strasse and we have our fans behind us. They will whip us forward."
“Hannover is playfully flexible and acts very robustly. That hasn't changed compared to the first half of the season. We have to counter it, play our game. It will be about being effective, working against the opponent and having the necessary luck.”
Stefan Leitl
"It was important for us to prepare the boys for a great football game. It excites and fascinates the region.”
“For our fans, this derby win is everything. It's our turn to get three points and give something back to the fans.”
"On the Derby itself, I think the game doesn't allow normality. Nevertheless, it's about preparing the players optimally for this game and also creating anticipation for this game.”
"There are no favourites in the derby. We know what we can do, what we need and what is in demand.”
"We are a team that can play very intensely and be robust and that tackles duels well. This is an absolute must for this game.”
“Our opponents are also emotional and highly motivated. They're certainly in a situation that's not easy because they need points to get out of there.”
“I'm expecting a team that tries to narrow the spaces and get into a counterattack situation with their quick switching game.”
Expected lineups
Eintracht Braunschweig under Schiele have tended to favour a back three for most of the season, and it’s expected to remain in the Niedersachsen Derby. Schiele was thrilled to announce during his press conference on Friday that Brian Behrendt and Filip Benković are both available for selection, they will most certainly start alongside Nathan de Medina.
The expectation is for a more attacking look, Fabio Kaufmann does that and playing as a forward thinking number 8 could be an interesting dynamic behind the excellent playmaker Immanuel Pherai.
Hannover have been searching for the answers all season, and still don’t know what their best team is. The obvious inclusion to the starting XI is the clubs top scorer Cedric Teuchert who has missed the last couple of weeks due to a bronchitis infection. The former Schalke man has 10 goals his name this season and they’ll be desperate for Teuchert to add to his tally.
I expect the back four to remain the same, as they’ve improved collectively with Phil Neumann and Luka Kranjc leading the defence.
Prediction
The pressure on Leitl and Hannover is immense with the international break on the horizon, and failure to win could see the coach sent packing. A season in which the higher ups in Hannover proclaimed a promotion season has turned into a repeat of campaigns gone by.
Braunschweig have been here before, an understanding that picking points is a premium in their quest for survival. Beating Hannover, a bitter rival they haven’t beaten since their home fixture in the 2013/14 Bundesliga could restart their season.
However, much like their first meeting, there isn’t much to separate the two sides. With Eintracht’s flimsy defence and Hannover’s inability to control games for sustained periods of time, I expect the side to be inseparable come the end of the 90 minutes.
I’m predicting a 1:1 draw