Tonight, second division soccer team Hannover 96 opens the new season at 1. FC Kaiserslautern. “Of course it’s a challenge for us – also mentally”, 96 coach Stefan Leitl approached the game on the Betzenberg with great respect.
For the “Red Devils” the home game, which kicks off at 8.30 p.m. (in the live center on NDR.de), is the second division comeback after four years of abstinence. The euphoria is correspondingly high, especially among the Palatinate fans: “The setting is wonderful: two big clubs are competing against each other. It will be very emotional on the Betzenberg,” said Leitl.
“The anticipation is huge that we can play the opening game of the new season.”
— 96 coach Stefan Leitl
His team must therefore approach the game “highly concentrated and with joy”, but “also with the self-confidence” that they have developed over the friendly games. 96 remained unbeaten in the pre-season, beating the Dutch first division club FC Groningen 3-0 in the final endurance test. Nevertheless, the 96 coach warned: “We had a short preparation phase, we will need weeks to get in shape for the league games.”
Leitl rejects the role of favourite
Leitl also rejects his team’s role as favorites in the coming season. “We can’t get out of stable last seasons. We have a new beginning. It has to grow, we will need time,” said the 44-year-old. “Other clubs have a lead. They’ve basically stayed together for a year or two and have strengthened individually. I don’t want to belittle us at all and downplay Hannover 96’s ambitions. But I still see other clubs a little bit ahead of us. “
Spoiled for choice in terms of personnel
In terms of personnel, Leitl has plenty to choose from in Kaiserslautern and is therefore spoiled for choice. In the central defensive midfield, new signing Fabian Kunze should have the edge – and Gael Ondoua will only sit on the bench for the time being. Cedric Teuchert will probably have to accept his role as a substitute. Even under Leitl’s predecessor Christoph Dabrowski, the offensive player rarely got a chance, and not much has changed in the preparatory games.
Up front everything boils down to Hendrik Weydandt – not just because he scored a “sensational goal” (Leitl) in the friendly against Groningen. “Henne is highly motivated, someone who is deeply rooted in the region and the club,” the coach told the “Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung”. Competitor and newcomer Harvard Nielsen, on the other hand, still needs time: “He had a serious muscle injury that lasted longer than expected. Nevertheless, he is at a good level and will soon be the old man.”
Possible lineups:
Kaiserslautern: Luthe – Zimmer, Tomiak, Kraus, Zuck – Niehues, Ritter – Hanslik, Wunderlich, Zolinski – Boyd
Hanover: Zieler – Dehm, Neumann, Börner, Köhn – Kunze – Schaub, Besuschkow – Kerk – Weydandt, Beier
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NDR 2 Sports | 07/15/2022 | 11:03 p.m
