Hamburg SV remain on course for promotion in the 2nd Bundesliga thanks to their home strength.

The runners-up in the table won 2:1 (2:0) against relegation candidates Eintracht Braunschweig and celebrated their seventh win in their seventh home game. For one night at least, HSV drew level on points with local rivals FC St. Pauli. On Saturday (13:00/Sky), however, the league leaders could restore the gap with a three-pointer at Hansa Rostock.

Hannover 96, on the other hand, dropped points at home for the first time after four home wins in a row. The team of coach Stefan Leitl drew 2:2 (0:2) with Hertha BSC after a comeback and climbed to third place in the table for the time being.

A double strike from Guilherme Ramos (25) and Immanuel Pherai (26) in the space of 70 seconds gave Hamburg, who have not won away from home in five games, a comfortable lead before the break. Fabio Kaufmann (62′) reduced the deficit for second-last Braunschweig, who scored their first away goal since August 6 in a 2-1 defeat at 1. FC Magdeburg. However, the Lower Saxony side remain without a point away from home.

Florian Niederlechner (29′) and Pascal Klemens (45′) gave Berlin a two-goal lead. Havard Nielsen (67) reduced the deficit and Andreas Voglsammer (80) equalized for the hosts. Hertha are stuck in mid-table in tenth place.

HSV dominated possession from the start, but hardly created any top-class goalscoring opportunities. Everything changed in just over a minute: first Ramos headed in Jean-Luc-Dompe’s cross following a corner to make it 1-0, then Pherai scored with a low shot from the edge of the box.

However, the hosts rested too much on their lead after the break. Braunschweig showed signs of life with their first away goal in 110 days – and even cheered the supposed equalizer. However, Kaufmann’s goal was taken back after video evidence due to offside (74′)