FIRST TEAM
04/25/2015

Huge three points for TSG in Hannover

TSG closed the gap on the Europa League places to two points with a vital win away to Hannover 96. Anthony Modeste fired Hoffenheim in front inside the opening two minutes, but it looked as if the game would finish level after the hosts equalised from the spot. Substitute Sven Schipplock had other ideas though, heading home late on to hand TSG a 2-1 win.

Tactics and line-up:

Manager Markus Gisdol was forced into two changes for the game against Hannover 96, which also brought about a change in formation. Captain Andreas Beck and Germany Under-21s captain Kevin Volland were both missing through suspension and so Gisdol changed his setup to a 4-3-1-2. With Beck absent, Jeremy Toljan moved across to right back and David Abraham came into the side on the left. The midfield three of Sebastian Rudy, Eugen Polanski and Pirmin Schwegler remained the same. The only other change came up front, as striker Adam Szalai returned to the side in place of the suspended Volland to partner Anthony Modeste up top, with the ever-present Roberto Firmino slotting in just behind the pair.

Match highlights:

2nd minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLL for TSG! What a start! Firmino draws the Hannover defence across to the right of the box, which leaves space for Anthony Modeste at the back post. The attacking midfielder finds him perfectly with a drilled cross and the striker taps home to put Hoffenheim in front!

 
19th minute: Hannover striker Ya Konan turns and fires from close range but Oliver Baumann gets his body behind the shot to keep it out.

 

23rd minute: Penalty for Hannover! Tobias Strobl brings down Schmiedebach in the box and the referee points to the spot!

 

24th minute: GOAL for the hosts. Lars Stindl sends Oliver Baumann the wrong way to level things up at 1-1.

33rd minute: How did that not go in? Strobl gets up highest in the Hannover box to get his head on a free kick, but the ball comes back off the post and rolls across the line before going behind for a goal kick! So unlucky.

48th minute: Chance for hosts Hannover as the ball falls to Joselu inside the area, but he fires straight at Baumann.

63rd minute: Sané gets to the byline before cutting the ball back for Stindl, fortunately the Hannover captain fires just wide!

81st minute: Roberto Firmino lets fly from distance but Zieler gets up well to tip his long-range effort over the bar. Can TSG cause some late drama in Hannover?

83rd minute: GOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!! Is that the late winner we were looking for?! Szalai looks up and finds substitute Schipplock free at the back post with a perfect cross and he makes no mistake with his close-range header!

 

95th minute: That's it! Referee Günter Perl blows the final whistle and TSG come away with a 2-1 win and three very important points!

 
Moment of the match: 

It was a very niggly game at the HDI Arena. Tackles were flying in all over the pitch and a total of seven yellow cards were shown. There was only one player that remained calm on the pitch. Oliver Baumann was confident, he gave his teammates protection, gave orders and showed safe hands. However, there was one Hannover free kick that he decided to clear with his feet like a defender – very casual, as was the shrug of the shoulders that followed.

Number of the match: 4 

Markus Gisdol and games against Hannover 96 go together well. As TSG manager, Gisdol has sent his side out onto the pitch four times against the Lower Saxony club and they have won all four matches. He made the brilliant decision to bring on Schipplock ten minutes before he scored the winner.

Match facts and statistics »

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