Braunschweig hold off Hannover

The first Bundesliga match between the two in 37 years saw pre-game antagonism between the fans build to a crescendo.

A heavy police presence surrounded the match and a flare found its way onto the pitch during the game.

There was little in the way of pyrotechnics as far as the game itself was concerned. On home turf and enjoying a heavy share of the possession, Hannover were effective in taking the game to Braunschweig - at least up to penalty area.

Once in front of goal though, they squandered the chances they did create.

Brauchschweig played to their strengths, closing Hannover down just when they pressed hardest. Hannover aimed to use the wings, with Szabolcs Huszti and Hiroki Sakai trying to catch Braunschweig napping at the back.

While they, along with corner taker Edgar Prib, found Mame Diouf on a number of occasions the Sengalese seemed to lack his usual quality up front. Iranian keeper Daniel Davari was kept busy, but seemed up to the task.

At the end of the first half though, Davari almost slipped up in the same way that Schalke's Thomas Hildebrand did at Chelsea earlier in the week when he conceded a bizarre goal to the London side.

Prib saw his chance to repeat the antics of Samuel Eto'o and tried to rob Davari of the ball as he dithered with the goal kick. Davari though, was a little more fortunate and, somehow, Braunschweig marched in 0-0 at the break.

Braunschweig threat grows

Hannover's ineffectiveness in front of goal continued into the second half. Braunschweig seemed to take heart, and began to spend more time in the opposition half, but still had no clear chances.

Diouf, looking isolated, became ever more frustrated as he tried to do something with his time up front. That became less of a problem as Braunschweig grabbed more of the possession, themselves looking increasingly threatening with substitute striker Orhan Ademi.

It was to be a frustrating night all round, though, as both sides went in sharing the points, 0-0.

"We were not good enough to get the derby victory and that is disappointing," said Hannover coach Mirko Slomka.

Braunschweig boss Torsten Lieberknecht was also, not entirely happy. "I am not totally satisfied, because we did not show the best side to our football. We can do better."

With the single point earned, Braunschweig moved off the bottom of the table with eight points, leaving Nuremberg on seven. Hannover moved to ninth, on 14 points, but are set to slip down after the rest of the weekend’s fixtures are played.

Bayern Munich play at home to Augsburg on Saturday, while Borussia Dortmund, who are just a point behind Bayern, visit Wolfsburg.