Cherundolo fit, Royer starts

96 manager Mirko Slomka began with a 4-2-3-1 formation for the game, with Jan Schlaudraff playing just behind Artur Sobiech as a second striker. Captain Steven Cherundolo was passed fit for the game despite suffering a bout of flu recently, meaning Sofian Chahed took his place on the bench. Since Sergio Pinto’s back problem hadn’t eased, Austrian midfielder Daniel Royer took the Portuguese man’s place on the right of a three-man midfield.

Heerenveen dangerous on the flanks

The whistle to begin the game had hardly gone when the Reds found themselves a goal behind. After a piercing through ball from Valpoorts, forward Narsingh’s run dissected the Hannover defence and he slammed a firm shot into the corner from the corner of the penalty area (7). The Reds were caught cold and it took them a few minutes to find their passing stride. They soon managed to find their customary rhythm and began spraying passes around the field, but were finding it difficult to create goalscoring opportunities. Heerenveen, for their art, remained dangerous on the counter-attack. Their system of 4-3-3, a formation so often used by Dutch teams, allowed them to hit the 96 quickly on the breaks, and they nearly added to their lead when Valpoort hit the post after a swift breakaway down the left. Ron-Robert Zieler saved a header from Breuers, while la Parra also went close with a fizzing volley on 36 minutes. The first half belonged to the Dutch team.

Chahed convinces

For the second half, Slomka made a somewhat unexpected change, bringing on Chahed to play at left back, and it was a position he adapted to very comfortably. With more stability at the back, the Reds began looking for the equaliser. Moritz Stoppelkamp and Konstantin Rausch combined brilliantly to allow the former a shooting chance, but his effort narrowly missed the target (59). Heerenveen keeper Vandenbussche then made two more saves, holding Stoppelkamp’s close range shot and then turning Manuel Schmiedebach's long ranger round the post (60, 62). Sobiech then had a fantastic chance to pull the Reds level, but his control deserted him when he was in on goal after Schmiedebach fine cross.

No luck for Polish striker Artur Sobiech

At the back, Hannover were far more solid than in the first half, particularly after the introductions of Chahed and youngster Christopher Avevor, but in the final third they were in need of some luck. Vandenbussche kept put another effort from Sobiech at his near post (82) and then parried a volley from Royer clear (84), as 96 went all-out for the equaliser. But Heerenveen’s keeper was in unstoppable form and the game ended in narrow defeat for Slomka’s side. They next face SC Paderborn in another friendly before an away trip to 1899 Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on January 21st.

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Hannover 96: Zieler – Cherundolo, Eggimann, Pogatetz (Avevor, 46), Pander (Chahed, 46) – Schmiedebach, Stindl (Lala, 46), Royer, Rausch (Aycicek, 68), Schlaudraff (Stoppelkamp, 46) – Sobiech

SC Heerenveen: Vandenbussche – Janmaat (Svec, 76), Gouweleeuw, Zomer, Breuer – Elm (Roorda, 46), Kums, Djuricic (Sibon, 76) – Narsingh, Valpoort, van La Parra (Slagveer, 76)

Goals: 0-1 Narsingh (7)

Yellow Cards: Schmiedebach, Lala / Sibon, Breuer

Attendance: 200 (approx)