Hanover clinch points at Karlsruhe

The home side, who had surprisingly defeated Nuremberg 2-0 away last Sunday, took the lead through a Maik Franz header in the 37th minute.

 But Hanover, beaten 1-0 at home by SV Hamburg in their season opener, levelled through striker Mike Hanke, who headed in from a free-kick nine minutes after the break, and sealed victory with a Hanno Balitch goal in the 75th.

 On Saturday, champions VfB Stuttgart visit Hertha Berlin but the top games of the weekend will see Werder Bremen entertain Bayern Munich, while Schalke 04 meet Ruhr valley rivals Borussia Dortmund.

DPA