# Lower Saxony derby

The Lower Saxony derby (German: Niedersachsenderby) usually refers to a match between the two Lower Saxonian association football clubs Hannover 96 and Eintracht Braunschweig. As of March 2025, 158 such matches have taken place: Eintracht Braunschweig won 69, Hannover 96 won 58, and 31 matches ended in a draw.

## Description

The cities of Hanover and Braunschweig are 55 km (34 mi) apart. 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.

## History
### The beginnings (1905–1963)

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

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. 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. However, the official lawsuit against the licensing was dismissed. 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.
Eintracht Braunschweig won the German championship in the 1966–67 season, but lost both season matches against Hannover 96.

### Present day

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

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

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. Also, crosses were put up in the Braunschweig area and supporters of both clubs initiated vigilante groups in front of their stadiums. 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

    As of 9 March 2025

### Statistics

League :
| Competition | Played | Eintracht Braunschweig wins | Draws | Hannover 96 wins | Eintracht Braunschweig goals | Hannover 96 goals |
| Bundesliga | 22 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 30 | 34 |
| 2. Bundesliga | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 23 |
| 2. Bundesliga Nord | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Oberliga Nord | 28 | 13 | 5 | 10 | 48 | 44 |
| Regionalliga Nord | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| League total | 76 | 26 | 20 | 30 | 101 | 114 |
| Cup |||||||
| DFB-Pokal | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| DFL-Ligapokal | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Fußballmeisterschaft | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Cup total | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 7 |
| Total | 81 | 30 | 20 | 31 | 111 | 121 |

### List of matches

    As of 9 March 2025

#### League

| # | Season | Date | Competition | Stadium | Home Team | Result | Away Team | Attendance | H2H |
| 1 | 1947–48 | 21 September 1947 | Oberliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | TSV Braunschweig | 5–0 | Hannover | – | +1 |
| 2 | 1947–48 | 11 January 1948 | Oberliga Nord | Radrennbahn | Hannover | 3–1 | TSV Braunschweig | – | 0 |
| 3 | 1949–50 | 2 October 1949 | Oberliga Nord | Radrennbahn | Hannover | 2–1 | Braunschweig | 10,000 | +1 |
| 4 | 1949–50 | 26 March 1950 | Oberliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 3–1 | Hannover | 8,000 | 0 |
| 5 | 1950–51 | 19 November 1950 | Oberliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 5–2 | Hannover | 6,000 | +1 |
| 6 | 1950–51 | 28 January 1951 | Oberliga Nord | Radrennbahn | Hannover | 0–0 | Braunschweig | 10,000 | +1 |
| 7 | 1951–52 | 9 October 1951 | Oberliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 3–3 | Hannover | 10,000 | +1 |
| 8 | 1951–52 | 16 March 1952 | Oberliga Nord | Radrennbahn | Hannover | 3–1 | Braunschweig | 8,000 | 0 |
| 9 | 1953–54 | 6 September 1953 | Oberliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 1–5 | Hannover | 25,000 | +1 |
| 10 | 1953–54 | 14 February 1954 | Oberliga Nord | Radrennbahn | Hannover | 0–2 | Braunschweig | 23,000 | 0 |
| 11 | 1954–55 | 12 December 1954 | Oberliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 1–0 | Hannover | 25,000 | +1 |
| 12 | 1954–55 | 30 January 1955 | Oberliga Nord | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 1–2 | Braunschweig | 27,000 | +2 |
| 13 | 1955–56 | 11 December 1955 | Oberliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 3–2 | Hannover | 15,000 | +3 |
| 14 | 1955–56 | 8 January 1956 | Oberliga Nord | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 2–1 | Braunschweig | 18,000 | +2 |
| 15 | 1956–57 | 14 October 1956 | Oberliga Nord | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 2–0 | Braunschweig | 21,000 | +1 |
| 16 | 1956–57 | 24 February 1957 | Oberliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 0–1 | Hannover | 16,000 | 0 |
| 17 | 1957–58 | 17 November 1957 | Oberliga Nord | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 6–2 | Braunschweig | 15,000 | +1 |
| 18 | 1957–58 | 2 March 1958 | Oberliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 2–0 | Hannover | 18,000 | 0 |
| 19 | 1958–59 | 7 December 1958 | Oberliga Nord | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 1–1 | Braunschweig | 18,000 | 0 |
| 20 | 1958–59 | 25 January 1959 | Oberliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 2–1 | Hannover | 15,000 | +1 |
| 21 | 1959–60 | 30 August 1959 | Oberliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 1–0 | Hannover | 30,000 | +2 |
| 22 | 1959–60 | 3 April 1960 | Oberliga Nord | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 2–0 | Braunschweig | 20,000 | +1 |
| 23 | 1960–61 | 18 September 1960 | Oberliga Nord | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 2 1 | Braunschweig | 7,000 | 0 |
| 24 | 1960–61 | 1 April 1961 | Oberliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 1–0 | Hannover | 6,000 | +1 |
| 25 | 1961–62 | 15 October 1961 | Oberliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 2–2 | Hannover | 16,000 | +1 |
| 26 | 1961–62 | 4 March 1962 | Oberliga Nord | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 3–3 | Braunschweig | 6,500 | +1 |
| 27 | 1962–63 | 14 October 1962 | Oberliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 3–0 | Hannover | 10,000 | +2 |
| 28 | 1962–63 | 10 February 1963 | Oberliga Nord | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 0–1 | Braunschweig | 12,000 | +3 |
| 29 | 1964–65 | 26 September 1964 | Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 2–2 | Braunschweig | 57,000 | +3 |
| 30 | 1964–65 | 13 February 1965 | Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 2–2 | Hannover | 30,000 | +3 |
| 31 | 1965–66 | 11 September 1965 | Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 2–1 | Hannover | 33,000 | +4 |
| 32 | 1965–66 | 7 April 1966 | Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 1–1 | Braunschweig | 41,000 | +4 |
| 33 | 1966–67 | 12 November 1966 | Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 4–2 | Braunschweig | 43,000 | +3 |
| 34 | 1966–67 | 29 April 1967 | Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 0–1 | Hannover | 35,000 | +2 |
| 35 | 1967–68 | 14 October 1967 | Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 1–1 | Braunschweig | 48,000 | +2 |
| 36 | 1967–68 | 16 March 1968 | Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 0–1 | Hannover | 18,000 | +1 |
| 37 | 1968–69 | 16 November 1968 | Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 1–1 | Braunschweig | 21,000 | +1 |
| 38 | 1968–69 | 23 May 1969 | Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 3–3 | Hannover | 13,000 | +1 |
| 39 | 1969–70 | 23 August 1969 | Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 1–1 | Hannover | 30,000 | +1 |
| 40 | 1969–70 | 3 March 1970 | Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 0–2 | Braunschweig | 22,000 | +2 |
| 41 | 1970–71 | 31 October 1970 | Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 1–0 | Braunschweig | 22,000 | +1 |
| 42 | 1970–71 | 8 May 1971 | Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 0–4 | Hannover | 17,000 | 0 |
| 43 | 1971–72 | 1 September 1971 | Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 3–0 | Hannover | 26,000 | +1 |
| 44 | 1971–72 | 19 February 1972 | Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 3–0 | Braunschweig | 18,000 | 0 |
| 45 | 1972–73 | 25 November 1972 | Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 2–1 | Braunschweig | 15,500 | +1 |
| 46 | 1972–73 | 26 May 1973 | Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 3–2 | Hannover | 30,000 | 0 |
| 47 | 1975–76 | 25 October 1975 | Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 3–2 | Hannover | 34,000 | +1 |
| 48 | 1975–76 | 17 April 1976 | Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 2–0 | Braunschweig | 36,000 | 0 |
| 49 | 1980–81 | 26 September 1980 | 2. Bundesliga Nord | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 1–1 | Braunschweig | 35,000 | 0 |
| 50 | 1980–81 | 21 April 1981 | 2. Bundesliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 2–0 | Hannover | 20,000 | +1 |
| 51 | 1986–87 | 12 September 1986 | 2. Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 1–0 | Braunschweig | 52,000 | +1 |
| 52 | 1986–87 | 4 April 1987 | 2. Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 0–0 | Hannover | 26,237 | +1 |
| 53 | 1989–90 | 29 July 1989 | 2. Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 1–0 | Hannover | 25,000 | 0 |
| 54 | 1989–90 | 25 November 1989 | 2. Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 3–0 | Braunschweig | 25,000 | +1 |
| 55 | 1990–91 | 5 September 1990 | 2. Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 0–1 | Hannover | 13,300 | +2 |
| 56 | 1990–91 | 28 March 1991 | 2. Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 3–0 | Braunschweig | 11,500 | +2 |
| 57 | 1991–92 | 21 September 1991 | 2. Bundesliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 1–3 | Hannover | 9,000 | +3 |
| 58 | 1991–92 | 8 December 1991 | 2. Bundesliga Nord | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 1–1 | Braunschweig | 10,400 | +3 |
| 59 | 1992–93 | 1 August 1992 | 2. Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 3–2 | Hannover | 12,000 | +2 |
| 60 | 1992–93 | 28 February 1993 | 2. Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 0–1 | Braunschweig | 7,600 | +1 |
| 61 | 1996–97 | 30 August 1996 | Regionalliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 3–2 | Hannover | | 0 |
| 62 | 1996–97 | 12 February 1997 | Regionalliga Nord | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 4–0 | Braunschweig | – | +1 |
| 63 | 1997–98 | 9 November 1997 | Regionalliga Nord | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 1–1 | Braunschweig | – | +1 |
| 64 | 1997–98 | 7 May 1998 | Regionalliga Nord | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 0–1 | Hannover | | +2 |
| 65 | 2013–14 | 8 November 2013 | Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 0–0 | Braunschweig | 47,200 | +3 |
| 66 | 2013–14 | 6 April 2014 | Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 3–0 | Hannover | 22,867 | +2 |
| 67 | 2016–17 | 6 November 2016 | 2. Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 2–2 | Hannover | 23,000 | +2 |
| 68 | 2016–17 | 15 April 2017 | 2. Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 1–0 | Braunschweig | 42,700 | +3 |
| 69 | 2020–21 | 3 October 2020 | 2. Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 4–1 | Braunschweig | 7,300 | +4 |
| 70 | 2020–21 | 6 February 2021 | 2. Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 1–2 | Hannover | 0 | +5 |
| 71 | 2022–23 | 10 September 2022 | 2. Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 1–1 | Braunschweig | 42,000 | +5 |
| 72 | 2022–23 | 19 March 2023 | 2. Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 1–0 | Hannover | 20,995 | +4 |
| 73 | 2023–24 | 5 November 2023 | 2. Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 2–0 | Braunschweig | 42,000 | +5 |
| 74 | 2023–24 | 14 April 2024 | 2. Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 0–0 | Hannover | 21,660 | +5 |
| 75 | 2024–25 | 6 October 2024 | 2. Bundesliga | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 2–0 | Hannover | 19,919 | +4 |
| 76 | 2024–25 | 9 March 2025 | 2. Bundesliga | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 1–1 | Braunschweig | 32,100 | +4 |
* ↑ Played behind closed doors.

#### Cup

| # | Season | Date | Competition | Stadium | Home Team | Result | Away Team | Attendance | Round |
| 1 | 1905 | 9 April 1905 | Fußballmeisterschaft | Victoria 96-Platz, Magdeburg | FC Braunschweig | 3–2 | Hannoverscher FC | | 2nd round Q |
| 2 | 1941 | 13 July 1941 | DFB-Pokal | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 1–3 | Hannover | 2,000 | 1st round |
| 3 | 1972–73 | 5 July 1972 | DFL-Ligapokal | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 1–0 | Hannover | | Group stage |
| 4 | 1972–73 | 26 July 1972 | DFL-Ligapokal | Niedersachsenstadion | Hannover | 2–3 | Braunschweig | | Group stage |
| 5 | 2003–04 | 29 October 2003 | DFB-Pokal | Eintracht-Stadion | Braunschweig | 2–0 | Hannover | 23,000 | 2nd round |

## Statistics
### All-time top goalscorers

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

### All-time most appearances

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

### Honours

| Braunschweig | Competition | Hannover |
| National |||
| 1 | Bundesliga | — |
| — | 2. Bundesliga | 3 |
| 1 | 3. Liga | — |
| — | DFB-Pokal | 1 |
| — | Regionalliga Nord (III) | 2 |
| — | Fußballmeisterschaft (defunct) | 2 |
| 1 | Regionalliga Nord (II) (defunct) | — |
| — | Oberliga Nord (defunct) | 1 |
| 3 | Aggregate | 9 |
| Regional |||
| 2 | Lower Saxony Cup | 3 |
| 2 | Aggregate | 3 |
| 5 | Total aggregate | 12 |

## Literature

* 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.