Despite having a two-goal led at half-time thanks to Bas Dost and Ivan Perisic, Jimmy Briand and Salif Sané's spectacular bicycle-kick earned Hannover a well-deserved point.

Wolfsburg were in a jubilant mood following their DFB-Pokal semi-final win over DSC Arminia Bielefeld during the week. That 4-0 wn came off the back of an exit in the Europa League and their title challenge ending the weekend before. Dieter Hecking made just one change to the side that beat Bielefeld, bringing in André Schürrle for Daniel Caligiuri.

Their northern rivals were not enjoying such a successful season. Hannover were languishing dangerously close to the bottom of the table and were without their captain Lars Stindl (suspended). He was replaced by Hiroki Sakai, as new coach Michael Frontzeck also gave Hiroshi Kiyotake a start ahead of Didier Ya Konan.

It was a promising start for the visitors too, as Joselu's powerful header was acrobatically tipped over by Diego Benaglio. Frontzeck's men were showing all the heart and ambition that pushed Hoffenheim all the way in his first game in charge, relentlessly shutting down their opponents at every opportunity.

Hannover couldn't make the most of their promising start and were made to pay by Bas Dost. The Dutchman was on hand at the back post to provide a simple finish from Kevin de Bruyne's cross. It was Dost's 14th, possibly simplest, goal of the season and his first since a brace against Werder Bremen on Matchday 23.

From there, Wolfsburg began to dominate possession and chances but couldn't find a way through the stubborn Hannover defence. They constantly prodded and probed around the box, with the game being played almost exclusively in the Hannover half following the goal.

That would all change when Ivan Perisic picked the ball up and ran past Edgar Prib and his team-mates, before unleashing a marvelous twenty-yard drive that rocketed into the top corner. Ron-Robert Zieler got a hand to the ball, but he had no chance to keep it out; a hammer blow right on half-time for the visitors.

The game looked to be following a similar pattern to the recent 4-0 drubbing to Bayer Leverkusen, though Hannover hit back within two minutes of the restart. Jimmy Briand, who had only came on at half-time, was the man to head home Prib's impressive cross and give their side a route back into the game.

Hannover built from there and added a second ten minutes later. Salif Sané produced one of the goals of the season, scoring a spectacular bicycle-kick from a half-cleared corner and bringing them back on level terms. The defensive man leapt up and made fantastic contact, as the ball flew into the net off the post.

Chances were at a premium after that and neither side were able to stamp their authority on the game. A few opportunities fell from outside the box, but there was nothing of real note and the game ended level.

It's a valuable point for Hannover, but they drop into the relegation play-off place after Paderborn's win. Wolfsburg could be just two points ahead of Borussia Mönchengladbach at the weekend, as the stutter to secure second place.