Hannover 96
| 1-0 | Haggui | (25. Min) |
| 2-0 | Diouf | (32. Min) |
| 3-0 | Pander | (46. Min) |
| 4-0 | Stindl | (73. Min) |
VfB Stuttgart
| 4-1 | Harnik | (75. Min) |
| 4-2 | Okazaki | (79. Min) |
Stats 
Set-back in Hanover
There was to be no joyful away win at Hannover 96, instead VfB often looked poor from set pieces and found themselves 0-2 down following two corners. Another poorly defended corner immediately after the break put VfB further behind and there was a fourth goal conceded. In the closing phase of the game, Martin Harnik and Shinji Okazaki pulled a couple of goals back but in the end, VfB were to suffer a 2-4 defeat.
Compared to the 5-0 win over Hertha BSC Berlin, Bruno Labbadia had to make a number of personnel alterations. A thigh injury forced out Serdar Tasci, leaving Maza to fill in at the heart of the defence alongside Georg Niedermeier.
In the early phases of the match, the 1,500 travelling VfB fans saw their side make a determined and pacy start but in the 25th minute, a corner was to cause a set-back for Bruno Labbadia’s men. Christian Pander swung in the delivery from the left and Karim Haggui was left completely unmarked to head Hannover into a 1-0 lead. Just minutes later, Martin Harnik could have levelled the scores again but wasted his chance, having been set through by Gentner.
VfB had barely recovered from having conceded the first, when suddenly they found themselves further behind. Another corner from Pander this time found Diouf, who was on hand at the near post to make it 2-0 for Hannover 96. The second goal clearly shook the visitors and the home side controlled the remainder of the half, taking their two goal advantage into the break.
Diashow
Hannover remain dangerous
Soon after the re-start, Stuttgart’s hopes of quickly pulling back a goal were dashed – once again thanks to a H96 corner. In the 46th minute, following a corner from Stindl, the ball fell to Pander, who hammered home to make it 3-0. VfB continued to search for a way back into the game, with Gotoku Sakai finding Shinji Okazaki, whose direct shot on goal landed just wide of the target.
VfB head-coach Bruno Labbadia: "Until the 0-1 we held our own in the game and even after having gone behind, we had two big chances."
Post match comments
Shortly after, substitute Cacau tried his luck from distance before Zieler was forced to make a save from Harnik. Hannover remained dangerous in spite of VfB’s best efforts. In the 59th minute, Diouf missed out following a pass from Stindl and minutes later, Ya Konan drove his shot from 17 meters out high and wide. Confusion in the VfB defence was to eventually lead to Hannover’s fourth goal, as Stindl left Sven Ulreich and slammed his shot home to make it 4-0.
In the closing phase of the game, VfB did manage to make the result look somewhat less horrific. In the 79th minute, Harnik combined well with Ibisevic, for the Austrian to make it 1-4 and then, in the 86th minute, Okazaki scored one of the goals of the season. The Japanese international launched himself in the penalty area and buried the ball into the top corner of the net with a stunning over-head kick. Just minutes before, Zieler made an amazing point blank save to deny Ibisevic.
In the end though, the 2-4 score-line remained. Hannover have now put eight points between themselves and VfB, who sorely crashed back to earth after their 5-0 win over Hertha last weekend.