Competing on two fronts

At the beginning of the season, it was feared by many that the added burden of European football would have an adverse effect on how Hannover’s form in the Bundesliga. Astonishingly, it has been the very opposite. In league games immediately after a European match, the Reds are yet to be defeated. They have also recorded impressive victories against Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen, and, perhaps most significantly, current champions Borussia Dortmund. Given these statistics, Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart, who are both due to meet the Reds soon after the Reds play their Europa league ties against Club Brugge in February, will feel more than hint of trepidation when they step over the white line to play Mirko Slomka’s team. 

Keeping the consistency

In very few seasons in recent years have Hannover enjoyed such consistency in their results, with just four defeats in the first half of the campaign. Five wins have been added to the eight draws for a points total of 23 at the halfway stage of the campaign. Interestingly enough, the Reds have occupied a place in the top half of the table after every matchday so far, a feat rivalled by only Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach. 

Five-time sold out AWD-Arena

Attendance figures for the AWD-Arena have reached record levels this season. A total of 411,735 visitors have been in attendance for the Reds’ nine home games this season, and five of those games have attracted the maximum crowd of 49,000. The remainder of our home games also saw fantastic matchday attendances: Leverkusen (44, 800), Hertha BSC (41, 200), 1. FSV Mainz 05 (40, 420) and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (40, 315). Those figures help us to an average matchday attendance of 45, 750, and long may such fantastic support of Hannover 96 continue!

Fortress AWD-Arena

It is indeed thanks to the brilliant support of our fans that the Reds have managed to remain unbeaten at home in the Bundesliga. Regardless of whether the opposition is from Leverkusen, Bayern, Bremen, Schalke or Dortmund, none have been able to defeat Hannover 96 in their own back yard. The only other side with no home defeats to their name is Gladbach. There has been one defeat for the Reds at home: to Mainz 05 in the second round of the German Cup. But in Europe the unbeaten record has also been maintained, and we all hope things continue that way for the Europa League knockout stages!

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