Hertha Berlin fell to their fourth defeat in five matches as goals from Jimmy Briand and Hiroshi Kiyotake gave Hannover a 2-0 win at the Olympic Stadium this evening.
Hannover's Kiyotake tested Thomas Kraft from range early on, but the Hertha Berlin goalkeeper was able to turn the Japanese midfielder's effort around the post.
Leonardo Bittencourt then went close for the away side when he controlled a lofted pass from Briand and volleyed towards goal, with Kraft getting down well to stop his effort at the near post.
Jos Luhukay's side threatened through Genki Haraguchi who volleyed over the top from Solomon Kalou's knockdown on 18 minutes, before the away side took the lead just before half time when Briand swept home from a Hannover corner, his first goal for the club.
Hertha Berlin substitute Ronny had an appeal for a penalty waved away on 73 minutes, before Kiyotake - who had earlier had an effort ruled out for offside - doubled his team's lead after a neat pass from Bittencourt to finish off an incisive Hannover break.
The result lifts Hannover into the fourth and final Champions League spot, while Hertha Berlin remain just four points off the relegation zone in 13th place.
Joe Sharratt
