By Rich
Hannover 96 broke a 5-match losing streak on Friday with a 2:1 win over nearby rivals and visitors SV Werder Bremen. The match’s first goal came in the 17th minute when former Bremen man Martin Harnik got the ball past goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka to score his 7th goal of the season and 1st of 2018. Hannover extended their lead at the 42nd minute when Felix Klaus took advantage of a ricochet off the goal post to score his 4th goal of the season. Bremen finally scored in the 74th minute Ishak Belfodil headed in a low cross from the right side just under the crossbar. While the win does not change Hannover’ position in the table, it does put more space between them and the relegation zone. The loss snaps Bremen’s 5-game unbeaten run, and Bremen have now failed to win their last 7 visits to Hannover. This weekend’s biggest match is certainly the derby on Saturday in Bavaria, league leader FC Bayern München travel just 49 miles to Augsburg. A win in Augsburg would give Bayern München their 6th straight Bundesliga championship, and the statistics are clearly in Bayern’s favor. Striker Robert Lewandowski has scored more times against Augsburg than against any other club: 18 in total, 9 of which have come in just the last 4 matches. Bayern’s Franck Ribery will be celebrating his 35th birthday, and a championship would leave him joining Philipp Lahm, Sebastian Schweinsteiger, Oliver Kahn, and Mehmet Scholl with 8 Bundesliga titles each. His teammate David Alaba would become the 1st player in Bundesliga history to win 7 titles by the age of 25. At the opposite end of the table, 2 of the clubs facing relegation will battle each other 1. FC Köln host nearby 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. The Billy Goats are anticipating the return of both defender Frederik Sörenson and Captain Jonas Hector from injuries, and a win against Mainz would reduce the relegation gap to just 3 points with 5 rounds still to play. Mainz, on the other hand, have not scored in their last 4 matches, have not won in their last 9 Bundesliga contests, and several of their 1st-squad players were still questionable this week with injuries. Cologne currently has the worst home record in the Bundesliga this season, and Mainz has the 3rd-worst away record.
Hannover 96 broke a 5-match losing streak on Friday with a 2:1 win over nearby rivals and visitors SV Werder Bremen. The match’s first goal came in the 17th minute when former Bremen man Martin Harnik got the ball past goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka to score his 7th goal of the season and 1st of 2018. Hannover extended their lead at the 42nd minute when Felix Klaus took advantage of a ricochet off the goal post to score his 4th goal of the season. Bremen finally scored in the 74th minute Ishak Belfodil headed in a low cross from the right side just under the crossbar. While the win does not change Hannover’ position in the table, it does put more space between them and the relegation zone. The loss snaps Bremen’s 5-game unbeaten run, and Bremen have now failed to win their last 7 visits to Hannover. This weekend’s biggest match is certainly the derby on Saturday in Bavaria, league leader FC Bayern München travel just 49 miles to Augsburg. A win in Augsburg would give Bayern München their 6th straight Bundesliga championship, and the statistics are clearly in Bayern’s favor. Striker Robert Lewandowski has scored more times against Augsburg than against any other club: 18 in total, 9 of which have come in just the last 4 matches. Bayern’s Franck Ribery will be celebrating his 35th birthday, and a championship would leave him joining Philipp Lahm, Sebastian Schweinsteiger, Oliver Kahn, and Mehmet Scholl with 8 Bundesliga titles each. His teammate David Alaba would become the 1st player in Bundesliga history to win 7 titles by the age of 25. At the opposite end of the table, 2 of the clubs facing relegation will battle each other 1. FC Köln host nearby 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. The Billy Goats are anticipating the return of both defender Frederik Sörenson and Captain Jonas Hector from injuries, and a win against Mainz would reduce the relegation gap to just 3 points with 5 rounds still to play. Mainz, on the other hand, have not scored in their last 4 matches, have not won in their last 9 Bundesliga contests, and several of their 1st-squad players were still questionable this week with injuries. Cologne currently has the worst home record in the Bundesliga this season, and Mainz has the 3rd-worst away record.
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