Hannover 96 had to stop today's training after striker Mustapha Bundu (29) suffered a painful knee injury following a hard knee‑to‑knee clash with Taycan Kurt (18). The incident occurred in the second half of the drill when both players collided while changing positions and Bundu went to the ground.

What exactly happened?

The collision happened during a tactical shift exercise without a ball. Bundu, the only right‑wing striker, ran into the 18‑year‑old wing‑flash Kurt. Both fell, were immediately attended by physiotherapists, and received cooling packs and bandages. Despite the pain they limped back to the locker room laughing – a sign that no serious damage is expected.

What are the consequences for the squad?

The incident highlights the thin wing depth. Besides Bundu, Kurt – who had only just joined the training match with the U23 side (1:2 against Chemie Leipzig) – is now unavailable. Co‑coach André Kilian had to take over the final minutes. Other players such as Daisuke Yokota (26) are already training cautiously due to knee issues, and Yunus Ünal (18) was substituted after a knee‑groin injury against Phoenix Lübeck. Wing options are therefore severely limited.

How does this affect the current season?

Hannover 96 currently sits 4th in the 2. Bundesliga with 60 points from 34 games (16W‑12D‑6L) and a recent form of DDDWD. The team has scored 60 goals and conceded 44 (+16). The last result was a 3:3 draw with 1. FC Nürnberg on 17 May 2026. Despite the accident, the club remains in the title race, though it is 10 points behind leaders FC Schalke 04. Bundu's absence could blunt the attack in the final push.

What comes next?

Bundu's recovery will be closely monitored; a serious injury is not expected, but training will be more cautious. Kurt will return to the wing after medical clearance. Coach Christian Titz now has to consider alternative options – possibly more minutes for Lars Gindorf (24) or Waniss Taibi (24) on the flanks. The upcoming test match against promoted Paderborn on Saturday from 11:30 am offers a chance to reshuffle the wing positions.

The injury underlines that, despite a solid league standing, Hannover 96 still needs squad depth to avoid jeopardising its promotion hopes.