Hannover 96 vs Wolfsburg. German Bundesliga.
AWD-ArenaAttendance41,400.
Saturday 6 December 2014 17:03, UK
Wolfsburg kept up the pressure on Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga with victory in the Lower Saxony derby at Hannover.
Kevin De Bruyne gave the Wolves the lead early on, but Joselu levelled for the home side just before half-time.
Bas Dost restored Wolfsburg's lead before Maximilian Arnold completed the victory which keeps the Wolves breathing down the back of Bayern's neck.
Hannover could have made a flying start, but Hiroshi Kiyotake's shot was parried by Diego Benaglio and Robin Knoche deflected the rebound over from close range.
A long punt forwards from Benaglio then led to Wolfsburg taking the lead in the fourth minute.
Two Hannover defenders both went for the ball, succeeding only in helping it on for Ivan Perisic to head into the path of De Bruyne, who kept his cool faced with only Ron-Robert Zieler to put the Wolves in front.
It was the eighth time this season that Wolfsburg had scored inside the first 15 minutes.
Most of those games have ended with Wolfsburg winning, but for them to do so again in Hannover, they would need at least a second goal after the hosts hit back on the stroke of half-time.
Wolfsburg failed to clear their lines and Jimmy Briand pulled the ball across from the left to Joselu, who headed in from a handful of yards out.
It was a deserved equaliser for the Reds, who had started to get on top of the game with their fans lifting them.
The home team also looked strong early in the second half with Benaglio making a good save to deny Lars Stindl on the volley.
However, it was Wolfsburg who again took the lead soon after when Perisic sent in a cross which Dost - only on the field for two minutes - headed in.
Another of Dieter Hecking's substitutes then sealed the victory with Perisic again the provider, picking out Arnold to convert from close range and ensure Bayern cannot be crowned unofficial autumn champions this weekend.
