2. Bundesliga Sunday Konferenz round-up

There were victories for SV Elversberg and Schalke 04, while Greuther Fürth and Hannover 96 shared the spoils in an entertaining draw.

Greuther Fürth 2 – 2 Hannover 96 

Greuther Fürth and Hannover 96 played out a gripping 2-2 draw at the Sportpark Ronhof, with debutant David Abrangao rescuing a point for the home side.

Hannover started brightly and made their dominance count after just six minutes. Maurice Neubauer’s low cross found Benjamin Källman at the back post, and the Finnish striker tapped home to make it 0-1. With Fürth missing several players, many expected the visitors to take control – but Thomas Kleine’s side had other ideas. In the 24th minute, Felix Klaus surged through midfield before slipping in Noel Futkeu, who rounded Nahuel Noll to net his sixth goal of the season and level the score.

The rest of the half passed without much incident, as both sides seemed content to go in level. It was a sloppy ending to the half for Christian Titz’s team, who needed a response after the break.

As expected, Hannover emerged with renewed energy. Hayate Matsuda squandered a golden chance in the 57th minute, scuffing his shot straight at Pelle Boevink after some good forward play from Källman. Just four minutes later, Matsuda made amends – Mustapha Bundu squared the ball across goal after a deep delivery from William Kokolo, allowing the Japanese midfielder to slot home for 1-2.

Fürth pushed for an equaliser and almost found it when Jomaine Consbruch’s powerful header forced a fingertip save from Noll. Kleine responded with a triple substitution, a move that paid off with ten minutes to play. Substitute and debutant David Abrangao rose highest to head in Branimir Hrgota’s free kick, making it 2-2. Källman nearly restored Hannover’s lead late on, but Boevink reacted sharply to deny him.

A fair result in the end after an even contest. Hannover were below their usual standards, twice surrendering their advantage, while Fürth showed character to respond. Kleine’s men go into the break in 12th with positives to build on, while Hannover drop to fifth after letting two points slip away.

FC Magdeburg 0 – 4 SV Elversberg 

SV Elversberg produced a ruthless display to dismantle Magdeburg 0-4 at the Avnet-Arena and move top of the 2. Bundesliga table.

Magdeburg began on the front foot, creating a flurry of early chances. Baris Atik fired over from an indirect free kick, Rayan Ghrieb had a goal ruled out, and Maximilian Breunig saw two efforts saved by Nicolas Kristof. Yet, as has been the story of their season, Magdeburg’s early promise quickly unravelled.

In the 23rd minute, Nicholas Mickelson’s cross from the right found Bambase Conté unmarked at the back post, and the striker nodded home for 0-1. Elversberg grew in confidence, and just before half-time, Conté again caused havoc in the box, setting up Tom Zimmerschied to calmly double the lead. The home fans voiced their displeasure as boos echoed around the ground at the break.

Despite Magdeburg’s efforts to respond after the interval, nothing would fall their way. Elversberg remained disciplined and dangerous on the counter – and they struck again in the 74th minute. Teenager Otto Stange netted his second goal in as many games, firing in after Reimann parried a Zimmerschied shot. Six minutes later, substitute Jarzinho Malanga added a fourth, finishing coolly to compound Magdeburg’s misery as fans began to leave in frustration.

A perfect away performance from Vincent Wagner’s side, who have now scored four goals in back-to-back away games to head into the international break on top of the table. For Markus Fiedler and Magdeburg, it’s another nightmare afternoon – a seventh defeat of the season, and serious questions mounting over the direction of the team.

Arminia Bielefeld 1 – 2 Schalke 04 

Schalke 04 left the Schüco-Arena with a crucial three points, edging past Arminia Bielefeld 2-1 to continue their climb up the table.

The hosts were dealt a nightmare start. In the 11th minute, goalkeeper Jonas Kersken gifted possession to Christopher Antwi-Adjei inside the box, and the Schalke winger gratefully slotted in for 0-1. Seven minutes later, things went from bad to worse – Arminia failed to clear a free kick, and Hasan Kuruçay pounced to double the visitors’ advantage.

Arminia offered little in response until the 34th minute, when Thaddäus-Monju Momuluh dinked the ball over Loris Karius, only for Adrian Gantenbein to make a stunning goal-line clearance to preserve Schalke’s two-goal lead going into the half.

The home side came out rejuvenated after the break and pulled one back almost immediately. Christopher Lannert’s delivery from a short corner found Maximilian Großer, who powered a header past Karius to make it 1-2. That goal lifted both the team and the crowd, as Arminia set about on their quest for an equaliser. 

Joel Grodowski spurned a golden chance to equalise just past the hour mark, cutting inside well but firing straight at the onrushing Karius. Despite sustained pressure, Arminia couldn’t find a way through as Schalke’s back line held firm.

A hard-fought away win for Miron Muslic’s men, who climb to second and extend their winning run to three games. For Mitch Kniat’s Arminia, it’s a third straight defeat – they drop to ninth heading into the international break, a timely pause to regroup and recover injured players.