Confident Hannover welcome Hertha

Posted Friday, October 04, 2013 by Foxsports.com

Hannover return to the comfort of their own four walls, bidding to clinch a fifth win in five games at the Niedersachsenstadion against Hertha Berlin.

Defeat at Bayer Leverkusen last weekend saw the Reds fall six points behind the top three, but they have yet to drop a point in front of their own fans, where goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler believes they are a force to be reckoned with.

"We've had a lot more self-confidence at home," he said, also stressing that they have not been as bad away from home as their three defeats in three games would suggest.

"Our away games were at Monchengladbach, Bayern Munich and Leverkusen - all strong opponents who are dominant at home," he added.

Nevertheless, Zieler admits Hannover need to start picking up points on the road if they are to reach their objective for the season.

"If we want to qualify for Europe, we've got to get points on our travels," he told herthabsc.de. "I'm confident we'll do that soon.

"We want to get back into Europe. The two years in the Europa League were fantastic and we want to experience that again."

Hertha had the very same experience three years ago before suffering relegation to the second division and Zieler says they are a side who could justifiably share Hannover's ambitions.

"They cannot be viewed as any normal side who are promoted from the second division," he said. "They were very strong in the second division last year and the 6-1 win over Frankfurt and 3-0 against Mainz speak for themselves.

"I'm expecting it to be a battle, one that we desperately want to win."

Hannover are without striker Mame Diouf, who has been ruled out for a few weeks with ligament damage.

Anis Ben-Hatira is a doubt for the visitors and coach Jos Luhukay will be hoping he does not have to do without one of his side's most influential players so far this season.

"We'll have to see if he is fit to play," said Luhukay at a press conference.