Hanover 96 – Arminia

Arminia will not tolerate a second consecutive defeat.

Before the start of the season, it would have been surprising for many fans of German football to learn that the central match of the seventh round of the 2. Bundesliga would take place between Hannover and Arminia. The hosts of the upcoming fixture were considered the third most likely candidates for the championship title, sharing this line in the bookmakers' rankings with three other clubs. Arminia started the season as a newcomer to the division. Last football year, the club from Bielefeld made a significant impact in German football. Firstly, the team won the Third League. Secondly, they reached the final of the DFB-Pokal, defeating four Bundesliga clubs along the way, including the reigning national champion Bayer at that time. Considering that Hannover no longer holds a sole leadership position, the upcoming round will be extremely important for this team. In the event of failure, the 'reds' could drop out of the leading group and lose confidence in their own abilities. Bookmakers have made the hosts the favourites for the forthcoming match, offering odds of 1.84 on their victory. Hannover has had a brilliant start to the new season. From the first to the fourth rounds, the 'reds' did not drop any points at all, despite the fact that none of their opponents during this period could be deemed weak. Against the backdrop of a winning streak in the league, the cup defeat to Energie seemed like a secret plan by Hannover's coaching staff to avoid distractions from other tournaments and focus on the task of promotion. However, in September, the 'reds' are not showing championship ambitions. First, they suffered a heavy defeat at home to Hertha (0:3), and then they brought back only a point from the pitch of bottom-placed Dresden (2:2), with the Dynamo players playing with a numerical disadvantage from the 54th minute. Arminia lost their form even earlier than their upcoming opponent. After two opening victories, the division newcomer won only one match out of four. On their home ground, Arminia overcame the resistance of Magdeburg. In the other matches, the team always conceded between one and three goals, losing two of them outright. Last August, Arminia defeated Hannover in the DFB-Pokal. It is unlikely that the guests will continue their decline with another defeat.