96 gives top first half of the season
Eintracht draws hope in the relegation battle
December 8, 2023, 8:33 p.m
Still 17th in the 2nd Bundesliga, but at least another win. And a clear one at that. Against Wehen Wiesbaden, Eintracht Braunschweig turned a deficit into a success. Things are different for the rivals from Hanover, who cannot win for the fourth time in a row.
Hannover 96 – Karlsruher SC 2:2 (0:1)
Hannover 96 squandered its strong first half of the season in the 2nd Bundesliga in the last few meters. The Lower Saxony team, who were third in the table at the beginning of November and were still dreaming of promotion, failed to score more than 2-2 (0-1) in their last home game of the year against Karlsruher SC. After four games in a row without a win, the former Bundesliga club has slipped to sixth place and could fall even further behind at the weekend.
The KSC is well on the way to ending a disappointing first half of the season on a positive note. Despite six points from the last four games, the gap to the relegation zone is still dangerously small.
Ex-national player Marcel Halstenberg gave the visitors an early lead. The returner initially cleared, but then directed a cross from Leon Jensen, which Budu Siwiwadze missed, into his own goal (11th). Shortly after the break, ex-Hannover player Lars Stindl increased the lead to 2-0 (53′) after a major mistake in the 96ers’ build-up play. Substitute Andreas Voglsammer (72′) and Sei Muroya (90’+1) saved the hosts a point.
After the early deficit, Hannover took more and more control of the game – and almost equalized: Havard Nielsen’s direct shot was parried by KSC goalkeeper Patrick Drewes (33′). But the guests remained more efficient: Igor Matanovic took the ball from Phil Neumann and sent Stindl, who gave former national goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler no chance. But Voglsammer gave the Reds hope again after preparatory work by Kolja Oudenne. Christopher Scott initially only hit the bottom edge of the crossbar (80th). Then Muroya was successful in the margin.
Wehen Wiesbaden – Eintracht Braunschweig 1:3 (1:0)
Eintracht Braunschweig is regaining hope in the relegation battle after their first away win of the season. With the 3:1 (0:1) win against newly promoted SV Wehen Wiesbaden, Lower Saxony shortened their lead to 17th place in the table. the gap to the relegation place to five points, at least until Sunday.
Braunschweig initially fell behind due to a header goal from central defender Aleksandar Vukotic (18th). After the break, the guests turned up the heat. Fabio Kaufmann (48th) and substitute Rayan Philippe (56th) turned the game around after the break. With the lead behind them, Eintracht clearly dominated the game and increased the lead to 3-1 with Kaufmann’s second goal (76′). He had previously been set up by Robert Ivanov with a pass.
For Wiesbaden it was the third defeat in a row. The newcomer had previously won four games in a row. In the table, the Hessians remain in ninth place with 21 points, at least until Saturday.