Hannover 96 edged Fortuna Düsseldorf 2-1 in an entertaining German Bundesliga 2 clash on January 24, 2026. The victory at the HDI-Arena was a significant one for Hannover, moving them closer to the promotion playoff spots with a hard-fought win against a direct rival. Hannover started brightly and were rewarded with an early goal, a powerful header from a corner. Fortuna responded well and leveled the score before halftime with a clinical counter-attack. The second half was end-to-end, but the decisive moment came midway through the period when Hannover's midfielder unleashed a stunning long-range strike into the top corner. Fortuna pressed for another equalizer but found the Hannover goalkeeper in inspired form, making several crucial late saves. The three points provided a major boost for Hannover's league position, while Fortuna were left to rue missed chances. The Hannover manager hailed his team's character, and the Fortuna coach acknowledged his side's effort but criticized defensive lapses.