Borussia Dortmund have failed to bounce back from the 5-0 defeat at FC Bayern, suffering their fourth home defeat in the 3-1 loss to Hannover 96.
Arnold Bruggink (37) and substitute Frank Fahrenhorst put 96 2-0 up at half-time.
Swiss international Alexander Frei (65) pulled one back, but Szabolcs Huszti (79) put the result beyound doubt.
BVB-Coach Thomas Doll had changed the starting line-up in five positions after the humiliation in Munich, including a start for 20-year-old goalkeeper Marcel Höttecke - with both Roman Weidenfeller and Marc Ziegler injured.
Two goals from set-pieces
Höttecke was unlucky when Bruggink’s inswinging free-kick was missed by everyone and sailed past him.
But the youngster certainly was guilty of poor goalkeeping when Fahrenhorst’s header beat him just four minutes later.
Frei scores immediately
BVB were incredibly poor in the first half 65 minutes, but pulled one back when Frei latched onto Florian Kringe’s cross to score with his second touch after coming on.
But the hosts failed to convert further chances and were punished when Huszti scored a great individual goal on the counter-attack.
Coppa Italia Round-Up
Momentum fickle for Chivas USA
Milan eye Bayern pair
Hanover see off Cottbus
Drama surrounding Frei
Kuranyi Schalke’s hero in five-star win