Scorer Sobiech turns provider

Straight after the club’s official photoshoot in the HDI Arena, the Reds took to the team bus and set off to Celle for the final friendly game before the opening match in the newly named home stadium. Hannover showed their intentions right from the off and took complete control of the game. The first chance of the game fell for André Hoffmann but his header glanced just wide of the Celle goal. He got a second bite of the cherry just moments later though, and this time the Germany U20 player nodded Huszti’s cross into the back of the net. In the 17th minute, the Hungarian had the chance to score himself after Artur Sobiech was brought down in the box and Hannover’s established penalty-taker made no mistake to make it 2-0.

Celle were having some good moments with the ball but their attacks broke down before they reached Ron-Robert Zieler. As the 30-minute mark approached, Sobiech added a quick brace to bring up 96’s third and fourth goals. The Polish striker was rested against Ankum, but was making an impression in his start against Celle and provided Hannover’s fifth goal five minutes after scoring himself. Striking partner Jan Schlaudraff was on hand to collect Sobiech’s square ball and elegantly lobbed it over the keeper for the final goal of the half.

A raft of changes, even more goals

Mirko Slomka sent seven fresh faces onto the field for the second half and they took their time to get into the game. In the 62nd minute, the Reds made it 6-0 through a set-piece situation. André Hoffmann’s header from the back post hit the head of an opposition defender and trickled over the line. 96 applied a lot of pressure but TuS-goalkeeper Tjark Klindworth continued to deny Slomka’s men. The goalkeeper was helpless in the 70th minute though, when Edgar Prib powered home a penalty after Valmir Sylejmani was fouled in the area.

Sylejmani, who managed five goals in his last friendly outing for the club, scored the final goal seven minutes from time with a handsome chip. Christopher Kautz and Kai Broschinski had good chances for Celle in the second half but were twice correctly denied by an offside flag, leaving the final score at 8-0 to the Reds.


Artur Sobiech scored twice in Celle. Lars Stindl finds him here for a goal

Nestor El Maestro: “Improved from game to game”

After the game, one that was watched by 3,000 fans, assistant manager Nester El Maestro declared himself happy with the development of the team over the last few weeks: “Once again we kept a clean sheet and I think you can see that we have improved from game to game. The players did well against a fit Celle team in front of a good crowd.” Leonardo Bittencourt had a light knock and therefore didn’t travel with the squad. Mame Diouf was also absent, having received consent from Dirk Dufner to spend an extra day in Senegal with his family and return to the team on Friday.

mh/jh

Hannover 96: Zieler (46’ Miller) - Sakai (46’ Avevor), Ballas (66’ Dierßen), Sanè (46’ Gökdemir), Schulz (46’ Pocognoli) - Stindl (46’ Sylejmani), Hoffmann, Prib, Huszti (46’ Pander) - Schlaudraff (46’ Nikci), Sobiech (66’ Capin)

Goals: 1-0 Hoffmann (13’), 2-0 Huszti (17’ pen.), 3-0 Sobiech (24’), 4-0 Sobiech (29’), 5-0 Schlaudraff (34’), 6-0 Own goal (62’), 7-0 Prib (70’ pen.), 8-0 Sylejmani (83’)
Attendance: 3,000 (approx.)