Eintracht Braunschweig loses in the Hanover derby - VAR scandal!

Eintracht Braunschweig loses in the Hanover derby - VAR scandal!

The Lower Saxony Senderby between Eintracht Braunschweig and Hannover 96 ended with a bitter 3-0 defeat for the hosts on October 27, 2025. This meant that Braunschweig had to accept a bitter defeat in their own stadium, while Hannover remained on the road to success and positioned themselves in the upper half of the 2nd league table. The victory for the 96ers was the first in Braunschweig since February 2021 - a moment that was duly celebrated by the fans. The mood among the supporters was exuberant and positive, especially in the packed guest corner.

At the start of the game, a pyrotechnic incident caused a five-minute interruption, which added to the intense derby feeling. Eintracht hardly found the right attack, while Hannover took control of the game with a strong performance. A crucial turning point was the red card for Erencan Yardimci in the 20th minute, which decisively shifted the balance of power. For Eintracht captain Sven Köhler, this sending off was a “game-decisive scene”. Coach Heiner Backhaus announced a fine for Yardimci and criticized his team's weak defense.

The guests' goals

In the first half, Hannover turned the tables: Benjamin Källman took advantage of his chances and scored two goals in the 32nd and 36th minutes, which came after solid teamwork, including a strong solo from Mustapha Bundu and a deflected shot from Husseyn Chakroun. Källman's third goal, which came in the 47th minute, was disallowed due to an offside position - the tension on the pitch was literally palpable.

The third goal for Hannover came in the 61st minute through Daisuke Yokota, who made the final score 0-3 after a cross from Kolja Oudenne. Hannover benefited from the numerical superiority and showed a controlled and efficient style of play, which was praised by coach Christian Titz.

Decisions of the referee

A particularly controversial situation was the duel between Sven Köhler and Husseyn Chakroun in the second half. Referee Robert Hartmann decided Hannover had the advantage, even though Köhler hit Chakroun in the neck with his outstretched arm. The VAR did not intervene due to the DFL rules, which only allow for a review in the case of direct red cards. The pressure on the two teams was increased by the fierce rivalry, which often creates explosive moments in city derbies.

After the game, Källman was optimistic about his team's performance, while Eintracht needs to reflect on their performance in order to improve in the coming games. Eintracht Braunschweig remains in the bottom half of the table, while Hannover 96 remains at the top.

Such city derbies have a long tradition in Germany and are always a special highlight for the fans. Historically, the term derby refers to duels between two clubs from the same city and often fuels passionate rivalries. The focus is not only on the sporting aspects, but also on the emotional connection the supporters have with their club.