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April 23, 2011

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Hanover moves into third spot

HANOVER 96 cruised past hosts Freiburg 3-1 on Thursday to jump back into third spot in the Bundesliga and give its Champions League hopes a boost three games before the end of the season.

The victory lifted Hanover to 57 points, two above fourth-placed Bayern Munich, which could reclaim third with a win at Eintracht Frankfurt today.

Both teams are battling for a third place finish that leads to the Champions League qualifying rounds. Hanover has now secured at least a Europa League berth, the first time it has grabbed a European spot in 19 years.

"We played a near perfect first half," said Hanover coach Mirko Slomka. "We fought on in the second half although the goal we conceded made us a bit nervous."

Hanover, missing suspended midfielder Sergio Pinto and top striker Didier Ya Konan, allowed the hosts more space early in the first half, waiting for its chance to break.

It finally pounced in the 24th minute when Mohammed Abdellaoue was sent through by Jan Schlaudraff with the Norwegian slotting in from the left for his 10th goal of the season.

Schlaudraff then turned scorer, chasing down a smooth Altin Lala pass to round goalkeeper Oliver Baumann seven minutes later before Konstantin Rausch's diving header after a fine run down the right and pinpoint cross by Manuel Schmiedebach sealed its win early in the second half.

 

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