Hannover 96
VfB Stuttgart
Marcelo
Stats 
Stalemate in Hannover
In a game during which chances on goal were few and far between, VfB had the better openings, but unfortunately left them unused. At the back, the Stuttgart defence was always in control and as a result, the ninety minutes passed without a goal at either end.
Huub Stevens placed his fate in the same eleven that started in Easter Sunday’s 3-1 home win over FC Schalke 04. Right from the outset, both sides looked to quickly close down the spaces when the opponent was in possession, resulting in few chances on goal being created.
VfB had their best opportunities early on through Daniel Didavi, when the 24-year-old first got a shot away after a cleverly worked move, but failed to hit the target (6‘) and was then denied by H96 keeper Ron-Robert Zieler (12’).
As the game progressed, the Cannstatt-Boys managed to put some good moves together, but never really threatened the Hannover goal. At the back, Huub Stevens‘ men proved an extremely compact unit and prevented Hannover 96 from creating anything of value whatsoever. There was no further action before the break and the sides went into the half-time break deadlocked at 0-0.
Quote for the game
Cacau: "We had hoped to take more from this game but we were never able to really create good chances on goal. We can take the point now and hope it proves valuable to us when the final count is taken."
Post match comments
Martin Harnik forced out
The crowd of 49,000 in the stadium in Hannover were treated to much of the same after the re-start. Both sides stood solid in defence and shut out the opposition demonstratively – until the 53rd minute. Daniel Didavi swung in a delivery from the left and found Cacau completely unmarked in the centre, but from lose-range, the striker volleyed high over the crossbar. In the 66th minute, the 33-year-old was then replaced by Timo Werner, who looked to drive things forward for Stevens’ eleven. VfB continued to have the bulk of the possession and looked to get the ball moving within their ranks, but were unable to crack the Hannover defence.
In the 78th minute, the VfB coach then introduced Vedad Ibisevic in attack as a replacement for Martin Harnik, who had dislocated his arm and was unable to continue. In the closing minutes, Alexandru Maxim was brought in as a replacement for Daniel Didavi, but unfortunately without the desired effect. In the 88th minute, Sven Ulreich was called upon to jab out a foot and deny Lars Stindl. The save ensured VfB held onto a point, with neither side hitting the target on the night.
