Hertha Berlin's Champions League hopes hit by home Hannover draw

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Hannover responded to their second change of coach this season by denting Hertha Berlin's Champions League qualification hopes with a 2-2 draw in the capital.

Vedad Ibisevic gave Hertha an early lead, but Artur Sobiech brought Daniel Stendel's men level in the 18th minute.

Manuel Schmiedebach then gave the Reds the lead, but Salomon Kalou salvaged Hertha a point which will nevertheless be regarded as a setback in their bid to finish inside the top four, with their advantage potentially down to a point after the weekend's other games.

Hannover move to within nine points of safety on Stendel's debut, but it is likely to be a case of too little, too late for the Reds' survival hopes.

Hertha were looking to bounce straight back from a 5-0 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend, and they made an ideal start at the Olympiastadion.

Ibisevic turned a Marvin Plattenhardt cross in with the outside of his boot to give the hosts the lead in the fourth minute.

Hannover's response was immediate, with Rune Jarstein making a fine one-handed save from Uffe Bech to make up for his mistake in giving away possession to Noah-Joel Sarenren-Bazee.

Schmiedebach rattled the right-hand post with a shot from the resulting corner with Hannover looking particularly hungry, and their pressure paid off when Sobiech brought them level, beating Jarstein inside his near post.

Hannover took the lead in the 58th minute when Schmiedebach side-footed Kenan Karaman's pass in off the inside of the far post.

The goal sparked a little more urgency into the Hertha team, though, and it took them 14 minutes to level.

Kalou, who had been off colour all night, appeared to have squandered the opportunity to turn Julian Schieber's cross into an open goal when he got his first touch completely wrong, but fortunately for him the ball remained within reach to stroke in at the second time of asking.

Ron-Robert Zieler made excellent saves from Ibisevic and Niklas Stark to preserve a point for Hannover.