Hannover come into the fixture off the back of a 3-2 win last Matchday against Frankfurt. A win for the hosts would mathematically secure them a place in next years Bundesliga. The visitors, VFB Stuttgart, also come into the game with high hopes after trumping European hopefuls Schalke 3-0 at home last weekend. A win would see them increase their gap on sixteenth placed Hamburg but move no higher than where they are already placed in fifteenth.
Hannover got the action underway in a packed HDi-Arena but it was Stuttgart who would pose the earliest threat. Didavi came closest within the first five hitting a shot not far wide of Zieler' goals. Minutes later Didavi had his second roll of the dice, but similar to his first shot Zieler wasn't troubled.
After a quarter of an hour the visitors had the ball in the back of the net but it was rightfully disallowed. Mönchengladbach-bound Traore's shot clipped the leg of ex-German international Cacau, fooling Zieler, but the latter was in an offside position and the goal was chopped off.
Ya Konan's night was ended earlier than he would have hoped as he had to leave the field of play through injury, Latvian loanee Artjoms Rudnevs came on in his place. At the tail end of the half Marcelo and Didavi were both put in the book for childish shoving after Didavi felt he had been clearly fouled by Marcelo in the box. Andreasen headed goalwards in what would be the last opportunity of the half but Ulreich comfortably gathered.
Half time Hannover 0-0 Stuttgart
Stuttgart looking the more likely of the two to go on and score in the second half but it's still anyone's game with forty-five to play.
The teams came out unchanged to how they ended the first period and Stuttgart got the second half rolling. Hannover' Huszti had the first chance of the second period but squandered it by wasting time changing to his favoured right then firing wide. Hannover had another opportunity shortly after but Stindl was unable to better his teammate Huszti's effort, and like Huszti failed to get it on target. Sandwiched in between Hannover's two chances Stuttgart had one of their own through veteran Cacau. The veteran latched onto a Didavi cross and somehow failed to convert from just yards out.
Teen sensation Timo Werner came on to replace the misfiring Cacau just after the hour mark. Didavi had yet another shot on goal, this time through a costless kick. The costless kick wasn't the hardest of things Zieler has ever had to face in his short career and he dealt with it accordingly. Ulreich was called into action right at the death as he was forced to keep out a close range Stindl effort.
Full time Hannover 0-0 Stuttgart
Late surges from both sides came to no avail, but it's a vital point for each side nonetheless.
Hannover are as good as secure in the race for survival and Stuttgart are not far behind. A Hamburg loss on Sunday to Augsburg would confirm Hannover's Bundesliga status for at least another year. Stuttgart stay unmoved and like Hannover will be hoping for an Augsburg victory on Sunday to almost certainly secure survival.