Spectacle and appropriate answers – Analysis of the 96 home game

„Not again,“ one or two people in the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor may have thought when the Lilies were forced to accept the equaliser after 82 minutes. Would SV 98, as has often been the case this season, leave a match feeling there was more in it? No, because the answer to the setback came immediately. A well-timed cross from the industrious substitute Luca Marseiler sailed onto the forehead of Killian Corredor, who crowned his convincing performance with a 2-1 lead. The renewed lead in the 83rd minute nipped Hannover’s hopes in the bud and visibly inspired the home side. And in addition to the reassurance of having restored the old difference, the quick response also demonstrated other important developments in this Lilies team. More on that in the category „What went well on this Easter Sunday.“

The start. From kickoff, the home team burned onto the pitch for 15 or 20 minutes, which kept many people on their feet. The South Hesse team played with unbridled energy, euphorically looking for a way to the opposing goal, and with a high level of excitement, they threw themselves into the pressing all over the pitch. It was only logical that such an energetic performance could not be maintained for an entire half. But the start, including the early lead, sent an important message to fans, opponents, and above all to themselves: namely, that the Lilies were determined to continue their impressive winning streak at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Florian Kohfeldt quite rightly described the beginning of the match as a „dream start.“ „We were very dominant in the first 15 or 20 minutes; we could have been leading by more,“ added the head coach. Because that was the only fly in the ointment in this soup, peppered with all sorts of footballing ingredients. That after this start they were “only” leading 1-0.

The response to the goal. Already teased in the „Scene of the Matchday,“ we now return to this crazy sequence of events towards the end of the game. Because it demonstrated that development is not an abstract construct, but can also be grasped. Over the months under Florian Kohfeldt, the team has acquired a resilience and fortitude that has enabled them to survive even difficult phases of the game. Of course, the fact that such a quick goal follows a setback always has to do with the notorious luck of the game. But the fact that the team immediately sought salvation in attack speaks for a spirit that has found its way back into the dressing room. Just a week ago, SV 98 remained stable at the Olympiastadion after conceding a goal out of nowhere, conceding nothing other than a chance from Toni Leistner. And they could have even taken the lead themselves through Guille Bueno. In the home game against Hannover, they also kept their heads high. That has been different this season. For example, in the two matches against Elversberg and the return match against Magdeburg. „I’m glad the team showed resilience,“ Kohfeldt said on Easter Sunday during a press conference with journalists after the press conference: „That’s one of the developments we wanted to take this season. We have to keep at it, but it’s generally moving in a positive direction.“

The dwindling grip. It was foreseeable that the Lilies wouldn’t be able to maintain the pace they had set at the start. Nevertheless, those in blue and white weren’t happy with how Hannover gradually came back. The Lower Saxony team’s growing courage was coupled with occasional passive phases from Darmstadt, coupled with a few minor lapses in concentration. While the Lilies continued to create excellent chances to further increase the score, overall Hannover 96 had more control of the game. „Hannover is an excellently organised team, fundamentally very strong in positional play and difficult to tackle,“ Kohfeldt said, paying tribute to his opponents that afternoon: „It was a difficult game for us, which culminated in our fourth home win in a row.“ Marcel Schuhen added: „I think it’s very important that the team should be judged by winning, even if people don’t always like the game.“ HIs goalkeeper also said: „Because that’s all that matters at this point in the season. Four consecutive home wins sounds reasonable.“ And the goalkeeper added a detail that is particularly important for goalkeepers: “During this period, we have only conceded one goal, which has been different in the past.” Which brings us back to the keyword “development.”