Awful luck
Following last Saturday's credible 0-0 draw away to Bremen, Hannover 96 turn their attentions to securing their first home win of the season. However, manager Andreas Bergmann's role is pretty unenviable at the moment, as he has the best part of a full team out injured, with the list seemingly growing every day. Robert Enke will definitely miss the Dortmund match, Hanno Balitsch is still struggling with the back injury he picked up in Bremen and is a big doubt, and the most recent addition to the treatment room is defender Mario Eggimann.

"We want three points!"
The number of injured players at Hannover has become almost surreal in the last few weeks, and the increase in those out shows no sign of abating. But Andreas Bergmann is insisting he won't stick his head in the sand ahead of the match against BVB: "What good is it complaining? Obviously the situation limits us somewhat, but we have a game ahead of us that we will do everything in our power to win. We want three points! If we play with a lot of passion we can deal with all the set-backs."


A key duel on Saturday: can Subotic stop Stajni?

Abortive start
Visiting manager Jürgen Klopp also has concerns of his own, following his side's poor start to a season in which they were meant to excel. After the 1-5 hammering against Bayern last weekend KLopp took his men off for a two day training camp in Marienfeld: "We wanted to have an intensive few days together working on tyhe situation after the long break", explained Klopp on the BVB website.
Having won their first game of the season at home to FC Köln, the wheels have rather come off for Klopp's side. As well as the Bayern game, Dortmund conceded four goals against Hamburg. Last season Borussia had the second best defence in the league, but they appear to be a bit more leaky this time around. Hannover may not be a good opposition against whom Klopp's men can turn around this form: they haven't beaten the Reds in their last six meetings.

Unimaginable injury situation - Balitsch doubtful
Alongside the long-term absentees Leon Andreasen and Jan Schlaudraff, the Reds will also be without Altin Lala, Vinicius, Mike Hanke and Sergio Pinto. Moreover captain Robert Enke must sit out Saturday's match because of his mystery illness, while Mario Eggimann is also ruled out with neck problems. Mikael Forssell is another man missing: having gone under the knife this week he is out for the next three months, in which he must wear a special shoe to aid his recovery. Hanno Balitsch, who picked up a knock against Bremen, hasn't trained this week and will face a late fitness test to see if he can play this weekend.


Leaky BVB defence: 96 will want to take advantage of their uncertainties

Trust those remaining
Despite the injury crisis, Bergmann will only send players who are completely fit onto the pitch on Saturday: "It is up to us to overcome this situation, we must put together a team of fit players, and show our willingness to face up to the challenge." So on Saturday a decimated home side take on an anxious visiting team. Perhaps the Reds can provide the perfect answer to their major problems: three points.
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BIG MATCH FACTS

• Hannover are unbeaten against Borussia in their last six Bundesliga games (three wins).

• Goals guaranteed: none of the 36 league meetings between these two teams have ended goalless.

• Only Hoffenheim have conceded fewer goals this season (2) than Hannover (3). The Reds have not conceded in 184 minutes of football, and this is their best ever defensive start to a Bundesliga season.

How the teams could line-up:

Hannover 96: Enke – Cherundolo, Haggui, C. Schulz (Balogun), Rausch– Balitsch (Schulz), Chahed, Djakpa, Bruggink – Ya Konan, Stajner

Dortmund: Weidenfeller– Owomoyela, Subotic, Santana, Dede– Hummels, Kuba, Sahin, Hajnal - Barrios, Valdez

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