Confirmed 2. Bundesliga Lineups: Energie Cottbus vs. Hannover 96
| Andreas Schlichter/Getty Images for DFB |
Hannover 96 travel to newly-promoted Energie Cottbus in the opening matchday of 2. Bundesliga. The visitors missed out in long-awaited Bundesliga promotion after drawing each of their last three games last season.
As for Cottbus, the former East Germany giants are back in second-tier football after two promotions in three years. Tolcay Ciğerci and Erik Engelhardt were instrumental in last season's success, and both of them are included in the starting lineup for the 2. Bundesliga opener.
Icelandic midfielder Stefán Teitur Thórdarson captains Hannover for the first time in a competitive game after Enzo Leopold joined Gladbach as a free agent. Last season's club top-scorer Benjamin Källman starts up front for the visitors.
Confirmed Cottbus vs. Hannover Lineups
Cottbus: Lotka; Rorig, Manu, Erlein, Zaydan; Bittencourt, Michelbrink; Ciğerci ©, Boziaris, Copado; Engelhardt
Hannover: Loretz; Allgeier, Tomiak, Hugonet; Neubauer, Thórdarson ©, Oudenne; Bundu, Taibi, Gindorf; Källman
