Team news

Hannover knockout high on Hoefkens' agenda Club Brugge captain Carl Hoefkens believes his side are heading into the Europa League knockout stages at just the right time as they prepare to face Hannover in the last 32.

Hoefkens' side travel to Germany for Thursday's first leg on the back of four straight wins in the Belgian league, which have firmly established them in second place behind leaders Anderlecht.

Hoefkens told his club's official website: "We have a lot of quality in this group. We know we have some quality players up front but we are a solid group and the true Club Brugge is rising." Christoph Daum's men scraped through a tight group stage including last year's beaten finalists Sporting Braga and have every reason to feel confident of establishing a first-leg advantage at the AWD-Arena.

Mirko Slomka's hosts have been in inconsistent form in the Bundesliga this season and currently sit in seventh place after following two wins with a disappointing draw away to struggling Mainz on Saturday.

They were also often less than impressive in their relatively weak qualifying group, failing to beat either Standard Liege or Copenhagen at home before edging through with a win over minnows Vorskla Poltava.

However former Bundesliga coach Daum is remaining cautious, insisting: "Hannover will start this match as the clear favourite. They are a very good team and they are very well organised." Hannover are aiming high following the signing of Mame Biram Diouf from Manchester United earlier this season and the return of many of their top players from African Nations Cup duty.

Deniz Aycicek will definitely miss out on both legs for the Germans after suffering a broken toe, but both Christian Schulz and Lars Stindl are expected to recover from recent knocks.

Daum's men are without Mushaga Bakenga who is ineligible having already played in Europe this season with Rosenborg, while goalkeeper Bojan Jorgacevic is also out having not made the club's UEFA squad list.

Hannover 96 vs Club Brugge

Last modified 16:50 17/02/12

Schlaudraff spot on for Hannover Jan Schlaudraff's penalty 10 minutes from time earned Hannover a 2-1 first-leg victory over Club Brugge in the Europa League round of 32.

The Bundesliga side, who are still unbeaten at home in their maiden Europa League campaign, fell behind to a Maxime Lestienne header early in the second half.

Substitute Artur Sobiech bundled home the equaliser after 71 minutes before Schlaudraff settled an action-packed encounter from the penalty spot.

But the tie remains in the balance, with Brugge carrying Lestienne's crucial away goal with them into next week's second leg.

The eventual winners will be away to either Wisla Krakow or Standard Liege in the last 16.

Hannover made a bright start, with Lars Stindl forcing Brugge goalkeeper Vladan Kujovic into action with an early strike from the right-hand edge of the box.

Kujovic then pulled off a smart save to deny Mame Diouf from six yards after the Hannover striker had been picked out in the box by Steve Cherundolo.

Brugge then laid siege to the Hannover goal, winning a succession of corners after Lior Rafaelov's long-range strike had been turned around the post by Ron-Robert Zieler.

But Hannover defended them well as Sergio Pinto and Manuel Schmiedebach both made timely clearances to ease the pressure before Konstantin Rausch fired over the bar for the Germans.

Brugge eventually broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half when Lestienne met Fredrik Stenman's cross and planted his header into the top corner.

Sobiech was sent on for Sergio Pinto after 68 minutes and he made his presence felt almost immediately, drawing Hannover level and then winning the penalty for Schlaudraff.

The Brugge defence failed to deal with a dangerous free-kick from Christian Pander, which he sent in from the right flank and Sobiech pounced on the loose ball to score from close range.