Big wins for Hannover and Hertha
Munich - Hannover 96 got their season off on the right foot with a 2-0 home victory over nine-man VfL Wolfsburg. Elsewhere, newly-promoted Hertha Berlin routed last season’s success-story Eintracht Frankfurt 6-1, while 1899 Hoffenheim blew a two-goal lead at home to 1. FC Nuremberg.
Hannover 96 2-0 VfL Wolfsburg
bundesliga.com rounds up the best of Saturday afternoon's fixtures...
Hannover 96 and VfL Wolfsburg kicked off the season in explosive style, as two goals and two red cards kept fans at the HDI-Arena on the edge of their seats throughout. The first goal of the day came in the 17th minute courtesy of Hannover’s Danish central midfielder, Leon Andreasen, who collected Mame Biram Diouf's through ball to strike a low shot through Wolfsburg keeper Diego Benaglio’s legs.
Wolfsburg’s misery was further compounded the just past the half-hour mark when 19-year-old midfielder Maximilian Arnold became the youngest player to be sent off in the Bundesliga since April 2007.
Wolfsburg implosion
The Wolves’ strong start to the second half, spearheaded by Ivica Olic, was cut short by Timm Klose's expulsion, with the centre back receiving his marching orders after picking up a second bookable offence. Wolfsburg's summer recruit had never been sent off in 45 previous Bundesliga appearances, but fell foul of the red card on his debut under Dieter Hecking.
The sending off effectively ended the game as a contest, and after Hannover spurned a handful of good chances through Andrease and Diouf, it was left to Szabolcs Huszti to seal the 2-0 victory in the 84th minute with a cool left-footed finish.
Line-ups and statistics
Hertha Berlin 6-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Hertha BSC Berlin got off to a dream start on their return to the Bundesliga, beating last season’s surprise package Eintracht Frankfurt by a five-goal margin at the Olympiastadion. The hosts took the lead in the 18th minute when Adrian Ramos finished off a slick counter attack. with Änis Ben-Hatira's first-time cross picking out the Columbian to slot the ball past Kevin Trapp.
American youngster John Anthony Brooks doubled Hertha’s advantage when he prodded home his first top-flight strike following a goal-mouth scramble, before an Alexander Meier penalty reduced the arrears for Frankfurt shortly before half-time.
Hertha rampant
Allagui then grabbed two goals in three second-half minutes to extend the home side’s lead. The first came from a deep Alexander Baumjohann cross from the left, which was calmly dispatched by the Tunisian, who then put the finishing touches on another ruthless counterattack.
Hertha refused to take their foot off the pedal and Baumjohann was in fine fettle, again the provider in teeing up Ramos, who found the near corner with a precise finish, before substitute Ronny wrapped up the win with a sixth in stoppage time.
Line-ups and statistics
1899 Hoffenheim 2-2 1. FC Nuremberg
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and 1. FC Nuremberg had to settle for a point apiece following an entertaining encounter at the Wirsol Rhein-Neckar Arena. Nuremberg had the better of the opening exchanges and nearly took an early lead through Daniel Ginczek. The summer signing from Borussia Dortmund struck keeper Koen Casteels with his first attempt, before watching his follow-up header come back off the post.
It was the home side who made the breakthrough when David Abraham beat two Nuremburg defenders to head the ball home from close range. Kevin Volland came within inches of doubling Hoffenheim’s advantage with a looping effort on half time, but they had to settle for a one-goal lead at the break.
Der Club fight back
Seven minutes after the break Hoffenheim did manage to extend their lead, when Firmino’s low cross found Anthony Modeste, who opened his account for the club with a simple finish from inside the six-yard box.
Incredibly, it was 2-2 just four minutes later as the visitors staged a mini-comeback. Niklas Stark pulled one back for Der Club with a header, before Ginczek muscled his way through the home defence to slot the ball past Casteels into the bottom right corner. Both sides squandered opportunities late on and as a result both had to settle for just a share of the spoils.
Line-ups and statistics
