Gladbach's top-four hopes take a hit with Hannover defeat
Hannover 96 damaged Borussia Mönchengladbach’s top-four aspirations with an impressive 2-0 win at the HDI Arena in Matchday 30’s curtain-raiser.
Hannover 96 2-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Goals: 1-0 Anton (49’), 2-0 Sobiech (60’)
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Boasting their youngest starting line-up for almost 30 years, Hannover made a vibrant start. Kenan Karaman was a threat on the left-hand side, and was involved in the hosts’ best move of the opening stages, although Hiroshi Kiyotake could only fire his shot over the bar. Fabian Johnson then spurned a good opportunity at the other end, but Daniel Stendel’s side remained in the driving seat, and would have gone ahead five minutes before the break but for Yann Sommer’s fine save from Noah-Joel Sarenren-Bazee.
Hannover got the goal their dominance deserved four minutes into the second half. The impressive Sarenren-Bazee was again involved, bounding to the touchline before cutting the ball back for Waldemar Anton, whose powerful shot was fumbled by Sommer. Not content with just the one goal, Die Roten upped the ante and scored a second when Artur Sobiech turned home the rebound from Karaman’s effort which hit the post. Gladbach briefly flickered into life after going two goals down, with substitute Ibrahima Traore a threat, but Hannover held on comfortably to record only a sixth win of the season.
Man of the match
This was a fine second appearance from Sarenren-Bazee. The 19-year-old’s powerful run created the first goal, while he also showed a fearlessness going forward that Hannover have been missing all season and deservedly received a round of applause when replaced late on.
Talking point
Although still far adrift at the bottom of the league, Hannover’s performances under new coach Stendel have been impressive. Here, the 96ers were aggressive, high-pressing and disciplined at the back. It is unlikely to be enough to survive, but the gloom has been lifted around the HDI Arena.
Match stats
- This was Hannover’s youngest average starting line-up (24.5 years) since a 1-0 defeat at 1. FC Kaiserslautern on 22 April 1986 (23.8 years).Andreas Christensen started in midfield for the first time ever in Gladbach colours.Anton’s goal was his first in the Bundesliga, while Sarenren-Bazee also provided his first assist.
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Line-ups
Hannover: Zieler – Sakai, Milosevic, Anton (Hoffmann, 88’), Albornoz – Sane, Schmiedebach – Karaman, Kiyotake, Sarenren-Bazee (Sulejmani, 77’) - Sobiech (Szalai, 83’)
Coach: Daniel Stendel
Gladbach: Sommer – Elvedi (Hahn, 83’), Nordtveit, Stranzl, Wendt – Christiansen, Dahoud (Traore, 54’) – Johnson, Stindl – Hazard (Herrmann, 54’) – Raffael
Coach: Andre Schubert