There is a lot at stake for the eternal rivals Eintracht Braunschweig and Hannover 96 in the derby on Sunday (1.30 p.m.). The “Lions” need every point in the fight to stay in the 2nd Bundesliga, just like the “Reds” do for the goal of promotion. The police are on duty with a large contingent.
It’s always about a lot of prestige. This time, the table constellation also ensures that the Lower Saxony derby on Sunday is extremely important for Eintracht Braunschweig and Hannover 96 (1:30 p.m., in the live center at NDR.de). Neither of the two opponents has anything to give away. The “Reds”, who can become double derby winners this season after their first leg win, are still dreaming of promotion to the Bundesliga. The “Lions” hope to stay in the league.
First Lower Saxony senderby for BTSV coach Scherning
Eintracht coach Daniel Scherning is facing a premiere. “This is the first game of this category that I have experienced as a coach. There are no bigger derbies in this country. This is something extraordinary for me too,” said the former coach of VfL Osnabrück and Arminia Bielefeld. “There’s a song about our city that says it’s more beautiful than any other city – I can sing that too now. And so can my children.”
The 40-year-old took over the Braunschweig team immediately after the 2-0 defeat in Hanover, when the team was still in last place in the table and he was still sitting in the stands as a spectator. “The first impression wasn’t that good,” he said honestly about his new team at the time.
Under Scherning, Eintracht managed to catch up with their competitors. Eintracht goes into the 29th matchday as third from last. “We showed that we can compete in the league. We have scored 25 points since then. Something is growing with everyone – in the group, in the club, with the fans. We want to give something back on Sunday for this support.”
“I don’t expect a fine blade.”
— 96 coach Stefan Leitl
His coaching colleague from Hanover is also preparing for this. “The opponent has their back to the wall, they have to score,” said Stefan Leitl. “I don’t expect a fine sword, but a game that will be very combative and intense.” With a view to his own route, he emphasized: “We should try to stick to ourselves.” The challenge is “on the one hand to accept the fight and not avoid a duel, but at the same time to bring our strengths to the field.”
96 threatens to fail ex-Braunschweiger Nielsen
Making things more difficult for the fifth-placed team is the threat of the loss of up to seven players – including the Norwegian striker Havard Nielsen. “There’s a big question mark behind him. He was in training today, but has problems with his ankle. We’ll have to see how that develops,” said Leitl on Friday.
Nielsen played for Braunschweig from January 2014 to June 2015 and scored a goal against Hannover in the Bundesliga derby in April 2014. In 2022 he moved with Leitl from SpVgg Greuther Fürth to the 96ers and scored in the 1-1 draw in Hanover against Eintracht last season. “Derby games are always something extraordinary. I’ve often scored in derbies and against former clubs. It would be nice if it worked again,” said the striker just this week.
More than 1,000 police officers on duty
When the eternal rivals meet, the issue of safety is always at stake. According to the Braunschweig police, police forces in the lower four-digit range will secure the game. A spokesman said that was slightly less than at the derby a year ago in Braunschweig.
In addition, Hamburger Strasse in front of the stadium will be closed again on Sunday. The main goal is to separate the fans. At the first leg in November in Hanover, supporters set off banned pyrotechnics and rioted in the stadium. A police officer was seriously injured in a scuffle in the home area.
Scherning doesn’t think much of the Interior Minister’s idea
However, Eintracht coach Scherning doesn’t think much of an idea from Lower Saxony’s Interior Minister Daniela Behrens – he made that clear on Friday. In an interview with the “Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung”, the SPD politician suggested that such high-risk games would be played in front of empty fan blocks in the future as a last resort if there were riots similar to those in the first leg in November at the Eintracht Stadium this Sunday should come to Hanover.
“I hope that it stays peaceful and doesn’t escalate,” said Scherning. “But football without fans sucks – we noticed that during the Corona period. I think there have to be other ways.” According to their own statements, the Braunschweig team feel “very well prepared” for this special second division duel. “We exchanged ideas intensively with the police and politicians.”
Possible lineups:
Eintracht Braunschweig: Hoffmann – Ivanov, Bicakcic, Kurucay – Rittmüller, Krauße, Donkor – Kaufmann, Helgason – Ujah, Philippe
Hannover 96: Zieler – Neumann, Halstenberg, Arrey-Mbi – Muroya, Leopold, Christiansen, Dehm – Teuchert – Nielsen, Tresoldi
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sports club | 12.04.2024 | 10:50 p.m
