German Bundesliga report: Hamburg ease drop fears

Hamburg made it two wins in a row to pull away from immediate relegation danger by beating Hannover 2-1 on Saturday evening.

An own goal from Marcelo and a Marcell Jansen strike gave the hosts victory, although they were lucky to come away with all three points, with Hannover the better side for long spells.

All the visitors, who missed a penalty, had to show for their efforts was an Artur Sobiech consolation.

Lars Stindl, who was rested in midweek, showed how the break had done him good as he inspired Hannover's attacks.

Midway through the first half, Hannover should have taken the lead when Rafael van der Vaart fouled Salif Sane inside the area.

However, Joselu's spot-kick was saved by Jaroslav Drobny before Hamburg raced down the other end of the field and took the lead themselves.

Marcelo tried to clear Zoltan Stieber's cross, but contrived instead to lift it past his own goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler.

Hannover continued to dominate, though, and Stindl and Jimmy Briand both sent in dangerous shots before the interval.

The Reds were caught cold at the start of the second 45 minutes when Jansen, who was on target in Hamburg's midweek win over Paderborn, scored again, leaving Zieler no chance with a shot which took a deflection off Marcelo.

Even a secondgoal did not knock Hannover off their stride and Sane's header nearly beat Drobny before a luckless Marcelo was denied by the crossbar.

Sobiech, on as a substitute, reduced the arrears in the 66th minute with a header, setting up a grandstand finish.

Hannover pushed for an equaliser, but the best chance fell at the other end to Stieber, who failed to beat Zieler in a one-on-one situation.

In stoppage time, Stindl's shot hit the outside of a post, summing up Hannover's evening as Hamburg were left to celebrate a second straight win.