2. Bundesliga

Bundesliga 2, Matchday 11: Hannover go top, Fortuna Düsseldorf lose again

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Bundesliga 2 leaders going into Matchday 11, Fortuna Düsseldorf lost for a second straight week and have now lost their place at the summit to Hannover, while Miroslav Klose’s free-scoring Nuremberg were held at HSV on Sunday.

Matchday 11 fixtures and results

Friday 1 November

Ulm 0-0 Schalke

There was no separating Bundesliga 2 strugglers Ulm and Schalke on Friday evening, with the point not a great deal of help for either side as they look to pull clear of the relegation zone. Ulm were the more proactive of the two teams, particularly in the second half, with Maurice Kratternmacher a lively presence in attack. However, a lack of quality and precision in the final third at both ends of the pitch ultimately meant that the spoils were shared.

Preußen Münster 1-0 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 1-0 Ter Horst (26')

The visitors’ hold on top spot was on shaky ground on Friday night after Daniel Thioune’s side suffered a third defeat in four second-tier games. Münster extended their unbeaten sequence to three games as a result, with Jano Der Horst the home hero thanks to his first-half header from close range after Andras Nemeth supplied an accurate centre. The result brings plenty of relief to the Eagles as they seek to push themselves further from the drop zone while Fortuna will rue several missed chances when the dust settles on this encounter.

Saturday 2 November (1pm CET)

Hannover 2-1 Karlsruhe
Goals: 0-1 Franke 45', 1-1 Ngankam (66'), 2-1 Halstenberg 89' (pen.) (assist: Tresoldi)

Hannover staged a rousing comeback to beat Karlsruhe 2-1 and take provisional pole position in the Bundesliga 2 standings on Saturday, Germany international Marcel Halstenberg slotting home from the spot to claim all three points with just a minute of regulation time to go. Despite the victory, it was a tough day at the office for Stefan Leitl's men, especially after they fell behind to Marcel Franke's triumphant header just before the break. However, substitute Jessic Ngankam breathed new life in to the home attack and slammed a superb strike into the roof of the net from close range to level it, paving the way for Halstenberg's steely spot-kick at the death.  

Greuther Fürth 1-5 Darmstadt
Goals: 0-1
Förster 30', 0-2 Lakenmacher 40' (assist: Lidberg), 0-3 Lidberg 45'+3, 0-4 Corredor 51' (assist: Förster), 0-5 López 77' (assist: Kemper), 1-5 Hrgota 90'

Darmstadt clocked a big 5-1 Matchday 11 win away to Greuther Fürth, overwhelming their hosts after an initial feeling-out period and taking a 3-0 lead into the break after Philipp Förster, substitute Fynn-Luca Lakenmacher and Isac Lidberg all proved too much for the home defence. The match was all but over when Killian Corredor made it 4-0 six minutes into the second half, but defender Sergio López decided to get in on the act too, making it 5-0 before Branimir Hrgota capped the home side's fight-back - and spared the club's blushes - with a brilliant solo effort in the final minute of regulation time. The rousing win sees Darmstadt climb towards the top half of the table, leap-frogging their opponents into provisional 11th place.

Jahn Regensburg 1-0 Elversberg
Goals: 1-0 Ganaus 16'
Red card: Galjen 90'

The hosts made it back-to back wins following a defensive masterclass against visiting Elversberg. Noah Ganaus converted Bryan Hein’s cross in the 16th minute for the game’s only goal as the division’s basement side picked up what could prove to be a crucial three points. For their part, Elversberg had most of the game but failed to add to a four-game unbeaten streak.

Hertha Berlin 0-1 Cologne
Goals: 0-1 Lemperle 30'

Cologne followed up their 3-0 victory over Holstein Kiel in the DFB Cup in midweek with a narrow victory over Hertha in Berlin. The only goal came shortly after the hour mark, when Tim Lemperle ran onto Dominique Heintz's brilliant past before finding the back of the net. The win is Effzeh's first in seven Bundesliga 2 matches, while Hertha suffer defeat for the first time in five league outings.

Watch: Cologne enjoy win away at Hertha

Sunday 3 November  

Hamburg 1-1 Nuremberg

Goals: 1-0 Elfdali 15’ (assist: Karabec), 1-1 Emreli 63‘

Nuremberg came away to Hamburg looking for a win that would have allowed them to leapfrog HSV in the table. The hosts were the better team in the opening 30 minutes, making their advantage count thanks to the tenacious Elfdali. FCN managed to keep it to just a one goal deficit before half time, although both sides lacked many clearcut chances. Nuremberg were a different side in the second half; high energy and free-flowing. Time after time they carved Hamburg open only to be halted by keeper Heuer-Fernandes, who was in inspired form. They finally equalised midway through the second half and pushed on for a winner, but it wasn’t to be, and the points were shared.

Paderborn 0-0 Eintracht Braunschweig

Red cards: Marcel Hoffmeier 72'

High-flying Paderborn played hosts to a struggling Braunschweig team on Sunday afternoon. The game was a cagey affair, combative in midfield, but both sides lacked that incisive edge and final ball. The first half went by without many talking points, but midway through the second, Marcel Hoffmeier was sent off for violent conduct on Sebastian Polter. Braunschweig pushed forwards, hoping to make their man advantage count, and were the better side, but they couldn’t capitalise on the sending off. The points are split, Braunschweig drop to 17th place and Paderborn are up to second.

Kaiserslautern 2-2 Magdeburg

Goals: 0-1 Loric 11‘ (assist: Kaars), 0-2 Hercher 13‘ (assist: Mathisen), 1-2 Tomiak 32‘ (penalty), 2-2 Ache 68‘ (assist: Sirch)
Red cards: Michel 36’, Kaars 90+3’

With four goals and two red cards, it was certainly an entertaining Sunday afternoon at the Fritz-Walter Stadion. The visitors took the lead through an outstanding Samuel Loric volley from outside the area just over ten minutes into the game. A sublime second followed not long after, with Philipp Hercher taking down a long ball brilliantly before calmly slotting past Krahl. It only went downhill from there for the visitors though, as they conceding a penalty, which Boris Tomiak tucked away, and received a red card within the space of five minutes when Falko Michel committed a second bookable offense. Lautern eventually found their equaliser through Ragnar Ache with just over 20 minutes left but couldn’t find that winning goal. Martijn Kaars was also shown a second yellow late on, but it was too late in the day for the hosts to take advantage of it. 

Watch: The top 5 goals from Matchday 10

Click here for the latest Bundesliga 2 standings