Hannover hold Dortmund to first goalless draw of Bundesliga season
Hannover 96 picked up their second draw in as many games and denied Borussia Dortmund a second straight win with the first goalless draw of the 2018/19 Bundesliga season on Friday night.
Hannover 0-0 Dortmund
With Linton Maina in fine fettle, Hannover looked confident in the early exchanges, preventing Dortmund from getting their game going, with only a rare counter-attack opportunity to note for the guests. Andre Breitenreiter's men lacked a cutting edge, though, and the first opportunities of the half arrived at the other end. Marco Reus burst in from the right and his low drive was destined for the far corner, but for a fine intervention by Michael Esser's outstretched foot to divert it behind. Reus then hit the crossbar from a similar position as Dortmund ended the first half with a flurry.
Bobby Wood was sent on to give Hannover a greater attacking threat, but again it was Dortmund who went closest, hitting the post for second time on the hour mark through Maximilian Philipp this time. He, like Reus before him, was left holding his head in his hands, and with a bleeding nose after clashing with Waldemar Anton. The Hannover captain then sent a volley just inches wide before Wood squandered another chance as the deadlock remained unbroken, with both sides going away with their unbeaten record for the season still intact.
Match stats
- Hannover's starting XI had an average age of 24.8 years – their youngest since their final game of the 2015/16 season.Hannover’s Weydandt has scored three goals in just 23 minutes of professional football (two in the DFB Cup and one in the Bundesliga). He’s only had three shots on goal, at that.Füllkrug had to wait until Matchday 9 to get on the scoresheet in the Bundesliga in 2017/18, but finished the season as Hannover’s leading marksman on 14 goals.Five of Reus’ 100 Bundesliga goals have come against Hannover (13 appearances).Witsel, Delaney and Dahoud each registered an assist on Matchday 1.Philipp was Dortmund’s top Bundesliga scorer last season with nine goals.
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Line-ups
Hannover: Esser – Sorg, Anton (c), Wimmer, Albornoz (Ostrzolek 86') – Bebou (Bakalorz 89'), Fossum, Walace, Maina – Asano (Wood 46'), Füllkrug
Unused subs: Tschauner, Elez, Haraguchi, Weydandt
Absentees: Hübers, Prib (both ankle), Schwegler (knock)
Coach: Andre Breitenreiter
Dortmund: Bürki – Piszczek, Akanji, Diallo, Schmelzer – Dahoud (Guerreiro 86'), Witsel, Delaney – Wolf, Philipp (Sancho 79'), Reus (c)
Unused subs: Hitz, Hakimi, Götze, Weigl, Toprak
Absentees: Bruun Larsen (foot), Rode (muscular), Alcacer, Pulisic (both fitness)
Coach: Lucien Favre
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