Wikipedia

Lower Saxony derby

The Lower Saxony derby (German: Niedersachsenderby [ˈniːdɐzaksn̩ˌdɛʁbi, -ˌdœːɐ̯bi]) usually refers to a match between the two Lower Saxonian association football clubs Hannover 96 and Eintracht Braunschweig. As of March 2026, 160 such matches have taken place: Eintracht Braunschweig won 69, Hannover 96 won 60, and 31 matches ended in a draw.[1][2]

Lower Saxony derby
Native nameNiedersachsenderby
Location Lower Saxony, Germany
TeamsHannover 96
Eintracht Braunschweig
Latest meetingHannover 1–0 Braunschweig
2. Bundesliga
(20 March 2026)
StadiumsHeinz von Heiden Arena, Hanover
Eintracht-Stadion, Braunschweig
Statistics
Meetings total160
Most winsEintracht Braunschweig (69)
Most player appearancesJürgen Bandura (18)
Top scorerHannes Tkotz (10 goals)
Largest victoryBraunschweig 5–0 Hannover
Oberliga Nord
(21 September 1947)
Location of the clubs' stadiums

Description

edit

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

edit

The beginnings (1905–1963)

edit

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

edit

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

edit

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

edit

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

edit

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

edit
As of 20 March 2026[2]

Statistics

edit
League
Competition Played Eintracht Braunschweig wins Draws Hannover 96 wins Eintracht Braunschweig goals Hannover 96 goals
Bundesliga22 6883034
2. Bundesliga20 54111427
2. Bundesliga Nord4 12155
Oberliga Nord28 135104844
Regionalliga Nord4 11248
League total78 262032101118
Cup
DFB-Pokal2 10133
DFL-Ligapokal2 20042
Fußballmeisterschaft1 10032
Cup total5 401107
Total82 302032111122

List of matches

edit
As of 20 March 2026[2]
League
# Season Date Competition Stadium Home Team Result Away Team Attendance H2H
11947–4821 September 1947Oberliga NordEintracht-StadionTSV Braunschweig5–0Hannover–+1
211 January 1948RadrennbahnHannover3–1TSV Braunschweig–0
31949–502 October 1949Oberliga NordRadrennbahnHannover2–1Braunschweig10,000+1
426 March 1950Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig3–1Hannover8,0000
51950–5119 November 1950Oberliga NordEintracht-StadionBraunschweig5–2Hannover6,000+1
628 January 1951RadrennbahnHannover0–0Braunschweig10,000+1
71951–529 October 1951Oberliga NordEintracht-StadionBraunschweig3–3Hannover10,000+1
816 March 1952RadrennbahnHannover3–1Braunschweig8,0000
91953–546 September 1953Oberliga NordEintracht-StadionBraunschweig1–5Hannover25,000+1
1014 February 1954RadrennbahnHannover0–2Braunschweig23,0000
111954–5512 December 1954Oberliga NordEintracht-StadionBraunschweig1–0Hannover25,000+1
1230 January 1955NiedersachsenstadionHannover1–2Braunschweig27,000+2
131955–5611 December 1955Oberliga NordEintracht-StadionBraunschweig3–2Hannover15,000+3
148 January 1956NiedersachsenstadionHannover2–1Braunschweig18,000+2
151956–5714 October 1956Oberliga NordNiedersachsenstadionHannover2–0Braunschweig21,000+1
1624 February 1957Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig0–1Hannover16,0000
171957–5817 November 1957Oberliga NordNiedersachsenstadionHannover6–2Braunschweig15,000+1
182 March 1958Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig2–0Hannover18,0000
191958–597 December 1958Oberliga NordNiedersachsenstadionHannover1–1Braunschweig18,0000
2025 January 1959Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig2–1Hannover15,000+1
211959–6030 August 1959Oberliga NordEintracht-StadionBraunschweig1–0Hannover30,000+2
223 April 1960NiedersachsenstadionHannover2–0Braunschweig20,000+1
231960–6118 September 1960Oberliga NordNiedersachsenstadionHannover21Braunschweig7,0000
241 April 1961Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig1–0Hannover6,000+1
251961–6215 October 1961Oberliga NordEintracht-StadionBraunschweig2–2Hannover16,000+1
264 March 1962NiedersachsenstadionHannover3–3Braunschweig6,500+1
271962–6314 October 1962Oberliga NordEintracht-StadionBraunschweig3–0Hannover10,000+2
2810 February 1963NiedersachsenstadionHannover0–1Braunschweig12,000+3
291964–6526 September 1964BundesligaNiedersachsenstadionHannover2–2Braunschweig57,000+3
3013 February 1965Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig2–2Hannover30,000+3
311965–6611 September 1965BundesligaEintracht-StadionBraunschweig2–1Hannover33,000+4
327 April 1966NiedersachsenstadionHannover1–1Braunschweig41,000+4
331966–6712 November 1966BundesligaNiedersachsenstadionHannover4–2Braunschweig43,000+3
3429 April 1967Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig0–1Hannover35,000+2
351967–6814 October 1967BundesligaNiedersachsenstadionHannover1–1Braunschweig48,000+2
3616 March 1968Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig0–1Hannover18,000+1
371968–6916 November 1968BundesligaNiedersachsenstadionHannover1–1Braunschweig21,000+1
3823 May 1969Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig3–3Hannover13,000+1
391969–7023 August 1969BundesligaEintracht-StadionBraunschweig1–1Hannover30,000+1
403 March 1970NiedersachsenstadionHannover0–2Braunschweig22,000+2
411970–7131 October 1970BundesligaNiedersachsenstadionHannover1–0Braunschweig22,000+1
428 May 1971Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig0–4Hannover17,0000
431971–721 September 1971BundesligaEintracht-StadionBraunschweig3–0Hannover26,000+1
4419 February 1972NiedersachsenstadionHannover3–0Braunschweig18,0000
451972–7325 November 1972BundesligaNiedersachsenstadionHannover2–1Braunschweig15,500+1
4626 May 1973Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig3–2Hannover30,0000
471975–7625 October 1975BundesligaEintracht-StadionBraunschweig3–2Hannover34,000+1
4817 April 1976NiedersachsenstadionHannover2–0Braunschweig36,0000
491980–8126 September 19802. Bundesliga NordNiedersachsenstadionHannover1–1Braunschweig35,0000
5021 April 1981Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig2–0Hannover20,000+1
511986–8712 September 19862. BundesligaNiedersachsenstadionHannover1–0Braunschweig52,000+1
524 April 1987Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig0–0Hannover26,237+1
531989–9029 July 19892. BundesligaEintracht-StadionBraunschweig1–0Hannover25,0000
5425 November 1989NiedersachsenstadionHannover3–0Braunschweig25,000+1
551990–915 September 19902. BundesligaEintracht-StadionBraunschweig0–1Hannover13,300+2
5628 March 1991NiedersachsenstadionHannover3–0Braunschweig11,500+2
571991–9221 September 19912. Bundesliga NordEintracht-StadionBraunschweig1–3Hannover9,000+3
588 December 1991NiedersachsenstadionHannover1–1Braunschweig10,400+3
591992–931 August 19922. BundesligaEintracht-StadionBraunschweig3–2Hannover12,000+2
6028 February 1993NiedersachsenstadionHannover0–1Braunschweig7,600+1
611996–9730 August 1996Regionalliga NordEintracht-StadionBraunschweig3–2Hannover0
6212 February 1997NiedersachsenstadionHannover4–0Braunschweig–+1
631997–989 November 1997Regionalliga NordNiedersachsenstadionHannover1–1Braunschweig–+1
647 May 1998Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig0–1Hannover+2
652013–148 November 2013BundesligaHDI-ArenaHannover0–0Braunschweig47,200+3
666 April 2014Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig3–0Hannover22,867+2
672016–176 November 20162. BundesligaEintracht-StadionBraunschweig2–2Hannover23,000+2
6815 April 2017HDI-ArenaHannover1–0Braunschweig42,700+3
692020–213 October 20202. BundesligaHDI-ArenaHannover4–1Braunschweig7,300+4
706 February 2021Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig1–2Hannover0[a]+5
712022–2310 September 20222. BundesligaHeinz von Heiden ArenaHannover1–1Braunschweig42,000+5
7219 March 2023Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig1–0Hannover20,995+4
732023–245 November 20232. BundesligaHeinz von Heiden ArenaHannover2–0Braunschweig42,000+5
7414 April 2024Eintracht-StadionBraunschweig0–0Hannover21,660+5
752024–256 October 20242. BundesligaEintracht-StadionBraunschweig2–0Hannover19,919+4
769 March 2025Heinz von Heiden ArenaHannover1–1Braunschweig32,100+4
772025–2626 October 20252. BundesligaEintracht-StadionBraunschweig0–3Hannover22,098+5
7821 March 2026Heinz von Heiden ArenaHannover1–0Braunschweig42,000+6
  1. ↑ Played behind closed doors.
Cup
# Season Date Competition Stadium Home Team Result Away Team Attendance Round
119059 April 1905FußballmeisterschaftVictoria 96-Platz, MagdeburgFC Braunschweig3–2Hannoverscher FC2nd round Q
2194113 July 1941DFB-PokalEintracht-StadionBraunschweig1–3Hannover2,0001st round
31972–735 July 1972DFL-LigapokalEintracht-StadionBraunschweig1–0HannoverGroup stage
426 July 1972NiedersachsenstadionHannover2–3Braunschweig
52003–0429 October 2003DFB-PokalEintracht-StadionBraunschweig2–0Hannover23,0002nd round

Statistics

edit

All-time top goalscorers

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

All-time most appearances

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

Honours

edit
Braunschweig Competition Hannover
National
1Bundesliga—
—2. Bundesliga3
13. Liga—
—DFB-Pokal1
—Regionalliga Nord (III)2
—Fußballmeisterschaft (defunct)2
1Regionalliga Nord (II) (defunct)—
—Oberliga Nord (defunct)1
3Aggregate9
Regional
2Lower Saxony Cup3
2Aggregate3
5Total aggregate12

Literature

edit
  • 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

edit
  1. ↑ "Lebendige Tradition: Hannover vs. Braunschweig: Das Niedersachsen-Derby im Wandel der Zeit". Kicker (in German).
  2. 1 2 3 "Direktvergleich". Kicker. 15 April 2017.
  3. ↑ "Das Niedersachsenderby: Eine Rivalität viel größer als Fußball". goal.com (in German). Goal. 6 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lower_Saxony_derby&oldid=1344526448"