Hannover 96 defeats Köln 2-1

96 provided itself important space away from relegation with a 2-1 defeat over Köln at the Niedersachsenstadion. The loss drives Dieter Hecking level with Köln at twelfth and a full nine points above 'Gladbach in the relegation playoff spot.

Once again Dieter Hecking was without the services of Jacek Krzynówek, Michael Tarnat, Frank Fahrenhorst, Vinícius, Steven Cherundolo, Valérien Ismaël and Chavdar Yankov for the injury saddled side. After a few close chances in both ends went for naught, Leon Andreasen opened the scoring at the nineteenth minute, Leon Andreasen scored the first of his two goals as he volleyed in Christian Schulz incredible long diagonal cross in from eleven metres. At the thirty-second minute Andreasen had his second as he got behind Petit to accept Arnold Bruggink's through ball and went in to score past Faryd Mondragón. At the half, Köln summoned Nemanja Vučićević and with two minutes he was creator of the next goal as his cross from the left corner was headed in by Milivoje Novakovič from in-close. Vučićević continued to threaten as his diving header from the right side of the box trickled wide and a further chance from twenty-five metres that just missed. However with Joachim Löw in attendance, Robert Enke denied each Köln and sealed the 2-1 victory.