Dynamo Dresden got off to the better start in front of 31,733 spectators at the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion. Fröling, who replaced the ill Amoako in the starting eleven, posed a threat as early as the fourth minute.
Hannover, however, scored the first goal: After a handball by Faber, the referee awarded a penalty after the VAR was called. Pichler confidently converted in the middle in the 11th minute to make it 0:1 - his first goal for 96. The visitors now looked more dominant and Okon headed against the crossbar (26'). But Dresden turned the game around: First Ghita scored an own goal after a Sapina cross (35'), shortly afterwards Fröling dusted off a corner to make it 2-1 (41'). Just two minutes later, Aseko Nkili equalized to make it 2:2 after Leopold's assist from a turn (43'). Pichler hit the post just before the break (45.+6).
The game remained open after the break. Hauptmann fired just wide of the top right-hand post from distance (53'). Sapina then weakened the Dresden side when he went in with an open foot against Leopold and was shown the red card (54').
