AUDIO: Hannover 96 advantage in the top second division game at Elversberg? (2 mins)
As of: October 31, 2025 9:10 a.m
Hannover 96 wants to take the momentum of the clear derby success over Eintracht Braunschweig with them in today’s top game in the second division against SV Elversberg. If the “Reds” succeed in this, they could establish themselves higher up before the next three top games against Darmstadt, Paderborn and Karlsruhe.
The games until the end of November will give an initial idea of whether 96 can even improve on its good starting position – fourth place, four points behind FC Schalke 04 at the top. And whether the goal of promotion to the Bundesliga can realistically be achieved. As a first step, coach Christian Titz’s team can jump to third place in today’s encounter in Saarland (6.30 p.m., in the NDR Livecenter).
This is currently held by SV Elversberg, which was unbeaten in eight competitive games before the most recent two defeats in the league (against Bielefeld) and the cup (at Hertha BSC). A victory in a direct duel and the “Reds” would surpass the SVE.
Two of the strongest second division teams
Easier said than done: 96 has not left the pitch as the winner in any of the five competitive games against Elversberg so far. If you exclude the cup defeat in 2010, there are two measly 2-2 draws in the four second division duels between both clubs so far on Lower Saxony’s very clear “credit side”. In contrast, there are two deserved 1:3 defeats from the previous season.
Now both teams have completely different squads and different coaches this season. Both are at the top – despite the upheaval – as in the previous round; Both are among the strongest teams in the league.
How does Hannover defend top scorer Ebnoutalib?
The SVE is the most accurate team in the lower house. Coach Vincent Wagner’s team has scored 22 goals so far – with only eight goals conceded, this results in the best goal difference in the league. Representing the “Attack Department”, Younes Ebnoutalib is at the top of the scorers list with nine goals. The Frankfurt-born center forward seamlessly picks up where Fisnik Asllani left off last season when he was on loan from TSG Hoffenheim.
The Kosovo-German striker scored a total of 18 times – three of them in the second half of the season against 96 in Hanover. Ebnoutalib’s quota so far is on track to eclipse Asllani’s statistics. Titz and his team will need an answer to the offensive power of the Saarlanders and to the 22-year-old.
Titz has to rebuild the 96 defense
The coach has to rebuild his defense. Boris Tomiak, who had played in every game so far, received his fifth yellow card of the season in the derby against Eintracht Braunschweig (3-0) and is therefore suspended on Friday evening. Ime Okon will also not be there, as the game comes too early for him after suffering a muscle injury in his hamstring.
In addition, Hendry Blank, who had to finish training early on Wednesday, will not be able to take part. As investigations have shown, the 21-year-old suffered a strained medial ligament in his knee after getting caught in the grass and now has to take a few days off.
“Every player has a move and a tension in it because they know it will be an interesting game.”
96 coach Christian Titz
But that’s not a problem for the “Reds” coach: “We have every position filled twice, so we can easily fill them with one or the other player.” Especially since he is counting on an effect from the clear success in the prestigious duel with Braunschweig: “You take a certain self-confidence with you. It helps you if you can win a game like that.”
Looking at the encounter in Elversberg, he was pleased to note that “every player has a move and a tension in it because they know that it will be an interesting game.” A good prerequisite – and an absolute necessity – for the start of Hannover’s top game weeks in the 2nd league.
Possible lineups
SV Elversberg: Kristof – Keidel, Pinckert, Le Joncour, Mickelson – Condé, Poreba – Petkov, Conté, Zimmerschied – Ebnoutalib
Hannover 96: Noll – Allgeier, Nawrocki, Ghita – Matsuda, Leopold, Neubauer – Aseko Nkili – Bundu, Rochelt – Källman