The Lower Saxony derby (German: Niedersachsenderby [ˈniːdɐzaksn̩ˌdɛrbi, -ˌdœːɐ̯bi]) usually refers to a match between the two Lower Saxonian association football clubs Hannover 96 and Eintracht Braunschweig. As of October 2024, 157 such matches have taken place: Eintracht Braunschweig won 69, Hannover 96 won 58, and 30 matches ended in a draw.[1][2]

Lower Saxony derby
Other namesNiedersachsenderby
Location Lower Saxony, Germany
TeamsHannover 96
Eintracht Braunschweig
Latest meetingBraunschweig 2–0 Hannover
2. Bundesliga
(6 October 2024)
Next meetingHannover v Braunschweig
2. Bundesliga
(7–9 March 2025)
StadiumsHeinz von Heiden Arena, Hanover
Eintracht-Stadion, Braunschweig
Statistics
Meetings total157
Most winsEintracht Braunschweig (69)
Most player appearancesJürgen Bandura (18)
Top scorerHannes Tkotz (10 goals)
Largest victoryBraunschweig 5-0 Hannover
Oberliga Nord
(21 September 1947)
Hannover 4–0 Braunschweig
Regionalliga Nord
(12 December 1996)
Location of the clubs' stadia

Description

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The cities of Hanover and Braunschweig are 55 km (34 mi) apart.[3] In the media, matches of the two teams against VfL Wolfsburg and in part also against VfL Osnabrück are called Lower Saxony derbies; this view is not shared by many supporters and club officials.[4][5][6]

History

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The beginnings (1905–1963)

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Eintracht Braunschweig was founded in 1895, Hannover 96 one year later as Hannoverscher Fußball-Club. The first match between the two teams took place in the first decade of the 1900s. Hannover 96 won the German championship in 1938 and 1954. Until the 1962–63 season, Braunschweig won 54 matches, with Hannover winning 38 matches and 14 matches ending in a draw.

Foundation of the Bundesliga in 1963: Birth of the sports rivalry

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After the decision to create a nationwide Bundesliga, three clubs from the Oberliga Nord were permitted to participate in the Bundesliga. Since Hamburger SV and Werder Bremen were directly admitted to the Bundesliga, only one free spot remained. Since Hannover 96 had the larger stadium, the higher average attendance and better financial prerequisites and was also ranked higher than Braunschweig in the German Football Association's twelve-year ranking, Hannover's officials were sure that they would receive the spot in the Bundesliga.[4][7] Still, Braunschweig was awarded the spot on 6 May 1963, for which the only criterion was their final position in the 1962–63 season: while Hannover 96 finished in ninth place, Braunschweig had come in third. In Hanover, the decision was met with incomprehension and provoked major protests.[4] However, the official lawsuit against the licensing was dismissed.[7] Many see the circumstances of the Bundesliga foundation as the cause or at least as a reinforcement of the rivalry between the clubs and their supporters.[8][6]

Eintracht Braunschweig won the German championship in the 1966–67 season, but lost both season matches against Hannover 96.

Present day

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In the recent past, the duels between Hannover and Braunschweig have become a rarity due to league affiliation. In the 1996–97 and 1997–98 seasons, when Hannover 96 was relegated to the third-tier Regionalliga, both clubs played for the championship and the promotion play-offs until the end of the season; Hannover 96 won the championship in the Regionalliga Nord both seasons. In 1998, the championship was decided through a win in the direct duel on the second-to-last matchday. A similar situation also occurred in the 2016–17 season, when Hannover was relegated to the 2. Bundesliga after 14 years in the Bundesliga and duelled Eintracht Braunschweig for a direct promotion spot until the last matchday. Hannover's win in the match against Braunschweig on the 29th matchday was co-deciding in this season. Braunschweig's last win against Hannover dates back to the 29th matchday of the 2013–14 Bundesliga season. However, the club was relegated at the end of the season, while Hannover remained in the Bundesliga.

In recent years, matches between the two clubs are always classified as high-risk matches by the police and extensive security measures are taken to contain the always massive riots of the fans during the derby.

Other Lower Saxony derbies

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The matches of Hannover 96 and Eintracht Braunschweig against VfL Wolfsburg are also occasionally called Lower Saxony derbies, since VfL Wolfsburg is also based in Lower Saxony and has played in the Bundesliga since 1997. However, in public perception these matches are only seen as "real" derbies to a lesser extent, since especially the fan scenes of the other two clubs do not view Wolfsburg as a "real" club that is rich in tradition. The 2017 Bundesliga promotion/relegation play-offs between Braunschweig and Wolfsburg, both cities only 30 km (19 mi) apart, were an exception as they were unusually charged due to the high stakes.

SV Meppen, which played in the 2. Bundesliga for a while in the 1990s, also played a few derbies against the Lower Saxonian northwestern rivals VfL Osnabrück and VfB Oldenburg as well as the then second-tier clubs Hannover 96 and Eintracht Braunschweig. Other teams that have played second-tier Lower Saxony derbies since the 1970s were Olympia Wilhelmshaven, Göttingen 05, Arminia Hannover, OSV Hannover and TSV Havelse.

Trivia

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Before the match in Hanover during the first half of the 2013–14 Bundesliga season, Braunschweig supporters provoked the home fans with a pig that ran through the Hanover city centre wearing a Hannover club scarf and with the number 96 painted onto its side.[9] Also, crosses were put up in the Braunschweig area and supporters of both clubs initiated vigilante groups in front of their stadiums.[10] Furthermore, a brewery from Braunschweig was Hannover's shirt sponsor in the 1980s. Eintracht Braunschweig supporters avoid saying the club name "Hannover 96" and also the number 96, which is replaced with "95 1".

Head-to-head

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As of 6 October 2024[2]

Statistics

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League
Competition Played Eintracht Braunschweig wins Draws Hannover 96 wins Eintracht Braunschweig goals Hannover 96 goals
Bundesliga 22 6 8 8 30 34
2. Bundesliga 17 5 3 9 13 22
2. Bundesliga Nord 4 1 2 1 5 5
Oberliga Nord 28 13 5 10 48 44
Regionalliga Nord 4 1 1 2 4 8
League total 75 26 19 30 100 113
Cup
DFB-Pokal 2 1 0 1 3 3
DFL-Ligapokal 2 2 0 0 4 2
Fußballmeisterschaft 1 1 0 0 3 2
Cup total 5 4 0 1 10 7
Total 80 30 19 31 110 120

List of matches

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As of 6 October 2024[2]
League
# Season Date Competition Stadium Home Team Result Away Team Attendance H2H
1 1947–48 21 September 1947 Oberliga Nord Eintracht-Stadion TSV Braunschweig 5–0 Hannover 1
2 11 January 1948 Radrennbahn Hannover 3–1 TSV Braunschweig 0
3 1949–50 2 October 1949 Oberliga Nord Radrennbahn Hannover 2–1 Braunschweig 10,000 1
4 26 March 1950 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 3–1 Hannover 8,000 0
5 1950–51 19 November 1950 Oberliga Nord Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 5–2 Hannover 6,000 1
6 28 January 1951 Radrennbahn Hannover 0–0 Braunschweig 10,000 1
7 1951–52 9 October 1951 Oberliga Nord Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 3–3 Hannover 10,000 1
8 16 March 1952 Radrennbahn Hannover 3–1 Braunschweig 8,000 0
9 1953–54 6 September 1953 Oberliga Nord Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 1–5 Hannover 25,000 1
10 14 February 1954 Radrennbahn Hannover 0–2 Braunschweig 23,000 0
11 1954–55 12 December 1954 Oberliga Nord Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 1–0 Hannover 25,000 1
12 30 January 1955 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 1–2 Braunschweig 27,000 2
13 1955–56 11 December 1955 Oberliga Nord Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 3–2 Hannover 15,000 3
14 8 January 1956 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 2–1 Braunschweig 18,000 2
15 1956–57 14 October 1956 Oberliga Nord Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 2–0 Braunschweig 21,000 1
16 24 February 1957 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 0–1 Hannover 16,000 0
17 1957–58 17 November 1957 Oberliga Nord Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 6–2 Braunschweig 15,000 1
18 2 March 1958 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 2–0 Hannover 18,000 0
19 1958–59 7 December 1958 Oberliga Nord Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 1–1 Braunschweig 18,000 0
20 25 January 1959 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 2–1 Hannover 15,000 1
21 1959–60 30 August 1959 Oberliga Nord Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 1–0 Hannover 30,000 2
22 3 April 1960 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 2–0 Braunschweig 20,000 1
23 1960–61 18 September 1960 Oberliga Nord Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 2 1 Braunschweig 7,000 0
24 1 April 1961 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 1–0 Hannover 6,000 1
25 1961–62 15 October 1961 Oberliga Nord Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 2–2 Hannover 16,000 1
26 4 March 1962 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 3–3 Braunschweig 6,500 1
27 1962–63 14 October 1962 Oberliga Nord Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 3–0 Hannover 10,000 2
28 10 February 1963 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 0–1 Braunschweig 12,000 3
29 1964–65 26 September 1964 Bundesliga Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 2–2 Braunschweig 57,000 3
30 13 February 1965 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 2–2 Hannover 30,000 3
31 1965–66 11 September 1965 Bundesliga Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 2–1 Hannover 33,000 4
32 7 April 1966 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 1–1 Braunschweig 41,000 4
33 1966–67 12 November 1966 Bundesliga Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 4–2 Braunschweig 43,000 3
34 29 April 1967 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 0–1 Hannover 35,000 2
35 1967–68 14 October 1967 Bundesliga Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 1–1 Braunschweig 48,000 2
36 16 March 1968 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 0–1 Hannover 18,000 1
37 1968–69 16 November 1968 Bundesliga Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 1–1 Braunschweig 21,000 1
38 23 May 1969 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 3–3 Hannover 13,000 1
39 1969–70 23 August 1969 Bundesliga Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 1–1 Hannover 30,000 1
40 3 March 1970 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 0–2 Braunschweig 22,000 2
41 1970–71 31 October 1970 Bundesliga Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 1–0 Braunschweig 22,000 1
42 8 May 1971 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 0–4 Hannover 17,000 0
43 1971–72 1 September 1971 Bundesliga Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 3–0 Hannover 26,000 1
44 19 February 1972 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 3–0 Braunschweig 18,000 0
45 1972–73 25 November 1972 Bundesliga Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 2–1 Braunschweig 15,500 1
46 26 May 1973 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 3–2 Hannover 30,000 0
47 1975–76 25 October 1975 Bundesliga Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 3–2 Hannover 34,000 1
48 17 April 1976 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 2–0 Braunschweig 36,000 0
49 1980–81 26 September 1980 2. Bundesliga Nord Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 1–1 Braunschweig 35,000 0
50 21 April 1981 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 2–0 Hannover 20,000 1
51 1986–87 12 September 1986 2. Bundesliga Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 1–0 Braunschweig 52,000 1
52 4 April 1987 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 0–0 Hannover 26,237 1
53 1989–90 29 July 1989 2. Bundesliga Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 1–0 Hannover 25,000 0
54 25 November 1989 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 3–0 Braunschweig 25,000 1
55 1990–91 5 September 1990 2. Bundesliga Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 0–1 Hannover 13,300 2
56 28 March 1991 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 3–0 Braunschweig 11,500 2
57 1991–92 21 September 1991 2. Bundesliga Nord Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 1–3 Hannover 9,000 3
58 8 December 1991 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 1–1 Braunschweig 10,400 3
59 1992–93 1 August 1992 2. Bundesliga Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 3–2 Hannover 12,000 2
60 28 February 1993 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 0–1 Braunschweig 7,600 1
61 1996–97 30 August 1996 Regionalliga Nord Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 3–2 Hannover 0
62 12 February 1997 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 4–0 Braunschweig 1
63 1997–98 9 November 1997 Regionalliga Nord Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 1–1 Braunschweig 1
64 7 May 1998 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 0–1 Hannover 2
65 2013–14 8 November 2013 Bundesliga Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 0–0 Braunschweig 47,200 3
66 6 April 2014 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 3–0 Hannover 22,867 2
67 2016–17 6 November 2016 2. Bundesliga Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 2–2 Hannover 23,000 2
68 15 April 2017 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 1–0 Braunschweig 42,700 3
69 2020–21 3 October 2020 2. Bundesliga Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 4–1 Braunschweig 7,300 4
70 6 February 2021 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 1–2 Hannover 0[a] 5
71 2022–23 10 September 2022 2. Bundesliga Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 1–1 Braunschweig 42,000 5
72 19 March 2023 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 1–0 Hannover 20,995 4
73 2023–24 5 November 2023 2. Bundesliga Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 2–0 Braunschweig 42,000 5
74 14 April 2024 Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 0–0 Hannover 21,660 5
75 2024–25 6 October 2024 2. Bundesliga Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 2–0 Hannover 19,919 4
  1. ^ Played behind closed doors.
Cup
# Season Date Competition Stadium Home Team Result Away Team Attendance Round
1 1905 9 April 1905 Fußballmeisterschaft Victoria 96-Platz FC Braunschweig 3–2 Hannoverscher 2nd round Q
2 1941 13 July 1941 DFB-Pokal Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 1–3 Hannover 2,000 1st round
3 1972–73 5 July 1972 DFL-Ligapokal Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 1–0 Hannover Group stage
4 26 July 1972 Niedersachsenstadion Hannover 2–3 Braunschweig
5 2003–04 29 October 2003 DFB-Pokal Eintracht-Stadion Braunschweig 2–0 Hannover 23,000 2nd round

Statistics

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All-time top goalscorers

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As of 14 April 2024
Rank Nation Player Club(s) Years Oberliga Nord Bundesliga Overall
1   Hannes Tkotz Hannover 96 1949–1959 10 0 10
2   Heinz Wewetzer Hannover 96 1950–1960 7 0 7
3   Hans Siemensmeyer Hannover 96 1965–1974 0 6 6
  Winfried Herz Eintracht Braunschweig 1951–1961 6 0
5   Georg Kellermann Hannover 96 1955–1965 5 0 5
  Werner Thamm Eintracht Braunschweig 1950–1962 5 0
7   Bernd Gersdorff Eintracht Braunschweig 1969–1973, 1973–1976 0 4 4
  Karl-Heinz Hellwig Eintracht Braunschweig 1954–1959 4 0
  Lothar Ulsaß Eintracht Braunschweig 1964–1972 0 4

All-time most appearances

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As of 14 April 2024
Rank Nation Player Club(s) Years Oberliga Nord Bundesliga Overall
1   Jürgen Bandura Hannover 96 1964–1974 0 18 18
2   Joachim Bäse Eintracht Braunschweig 1959–1973 5 12 17
  Klaus Gerwien Eintracht Braunschweig 1961–1973 3 14
  Peter Kaack Eintracht Braunschweig 1963–1973 0 17
5   Hans Jäcker Eintracht Braunschweig 1956–1967 13 3 16
  Heinz Wewetzer Hannover 96 1950–1960 16 0
7   Hans Krämer Hannover 96 1947–1948, 1949–1959 15 0 15
  Hans Siemensmeyer Hannover 96 1965–1974 0 15
  Jürgen Moll Eintracht Braunschweig 1957–1968 7 8
  Rainer Stiller Hannover 96 1950–1960 16 0
  Walter Schmidt Eintracht Braunschweig 1959–1970 6 9
  Werner Thamm Eintracht Braunschweig 1950–1962 15 0

Honours

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Braunschweig Competition Hannover
National
1 Bundesliga
2. Bundesliga 3
1 3. Liga
DFB-Pokal 1
Regionalliga Nord (III) 2
Fußballmeisterschaft (defunct) 2
1 Regionalliga Nord (II) (defunct)
Oberliga Nord (defunct) 1
3 Aggregate 9
Regional
2 Lower Saxony Cup 3
2 Aggregate 3
5 Total aggregate 12

Literature

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  • Werner Balhauff: Hannover 96 – von Tradition und Herzblut für den Fußball. Fakten, Mythen Wissen und Meilensteine. E-Book at Neobooks, 2015.
  • Volker Bergmeister, Erich Scheck: Was für ein Tag!: 366 Kalendergeschichten rund um den Fußball. Norderstedt 2016, S. 351.

References

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  1. ^ "Lebendige Tradition: Hannover vs. Braunschweig: Das Niedersachsen-Derby im Wandel der Zeit". kicker.de (in German). kicker.
  2. ^ a b c "Direktvergleich". kicker.de. kicker. 15 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Das Niedersachsenderby: Eine Rivalität viel größer als Fußball". goal.com (in German). Goal. 6 November 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Messeparkplatz-Ost vs West-Peine". 11freunde.de (in German). 11 Freunde. 8 November 2013. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Die kleine Nummer". fr.de (in German). Frankfurter Rundschau. 17 September 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Derbygeschichte: Hannover 96 gegen Eintracht Braunschweig". haz.de (in German). Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung. Archived from the original on 2019-04-13. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
  7. ^ a b "Diese Männer schnappten 96 vor 50 Jahren die 1. Liga weg". haz.de (in German). Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung. 9 May 2013. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  8. ^ "Hannover mischt 1964 die Liga auf". ndr.de (in German). Norddeutscher Rundfunk. 27 May 2012.
  9. ^ "Polizei fängt Schwein mit Hannover-Schal ein". welt.de. Die Welt. 7 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Schwein mit 96-Schal irrt durch Hannover". neuepresse.de. Neue Presse. 7 November 2013.
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