North derby, packed stadium, fourth against first: Hannover 96 against HSV is the top game of this second division weekend. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the teams? The data check.
The anticipation of the encounter on Friday (6.30 p.m./in the NDR Livecenter) is great on both sides. With a win, Hanover could move up to one point behind Hamburg, while HSV would further extend its lead over the non-promotion ranks with three points.
“The two teams with the best form in the second division meet. We, the 96, are able to beat any opponent at home in this league,” said Hanover coach Stefan Leitl on Wednesday.
Who can impose their style on the opponent?
Decisive for the outcome of the game should be which team can implement their style better and impose it on the opponent. While Hannover plays a very physical form of football and is involved in a lot of duels, the Hamburgers play with a lot of ball possession and thus avoid direct duels more often.
“It will depend on the intensity. Hannover will play aggressively, we have to and want to counteract this,” stressed HSV coach Tim Walter.
Hannover 96 leads the most duels
According to the GSN data, 96 leads the most in the league with an average of 173 tackles per game, HSV with 142.56 more than 30 fewer (16th place). But that doesn’t mean that Tim Walter’s team is weak in duels, quite the opposite: 51.6 percent of duels won are the best in the league for the Hamburg team, who also lead the ranking in header duels. Hanover has a value of 50.25 (10th place).
Nevertheless, it should suit Hannover if the game is physical and competitive. Because the Hamburgers are the better team in terms of play, which is underpinned by a whole series of top values.
HSV relies on ball possession
58 percent ball possession (3rd place), 80.11 percent passed passes (3rd place) and 26 dribbles per game – 15.67 of them successful (each 3rd) show an example of the orientation of the Walter team, whose offensive concept consists primarily of putting the strong center forward Robert Glatzel in the limelight with crosses.
HSV has the third best value for attacks via the outer lanes, and the worst for attacks through the middle. Means for 96: full-backs and midfielders have to work very disciplined to prevent crosses and thus shake the concept of Hamburg.
96 defense is vulnerable
In any case, Hannover will have to improve their defense. No team in the top six has conceded more goals (12). 15.91 opposing shots on goal per game are the second worst value in the second division. And even if HSV hasn’t had a good chance conversion rate so far (13th place), Lower Saxony shouldn’t rely on it staying that way in the derby.
“We need a high intensity in the game against the ball, a good order, a lot of position changes and castling within the team, where we can’t lure ourselves out of the basic order,” said Leitl on the defensive strategy.
HSV with three goals fewer than Hannover
So far, the 96 offensive has been reliable. Despite the much more physical style, Hannover have scored three more goals than HSV with 17 goals.
One-on-one situations and attacks from the left are the Leitl team’s recipe for success. 16.44 successful dribbles per game (2nd) – 62.18 percent of them successful (4th) – recorded the “Reds”.
3.44 attacks from the left with goal completion (3rd) and 12.14 percent successful attacks from the left (2nd) are also top values. In addition, 96 has so far been characterized by a good conversion rate (5th). Maintaining this and impressing HSV with commitment should be the recipe for success for Hanover, along with more consistent defensive work.
This topic in the program:
The NDR 2 Bundesliga show | 09/30/2022 | 6:00 p.m
