2. Bundesliga preview: SC Preußen Münster vs. Hertha BSC

With ten games remaining, both sides are desperate for a victory here for very different reasons. Alexander Ende’s Münster are looking to create some breathing room between themselves and the bottom three, while Stefan Leitl’s Hertha need all the points they can get as they cling to faint hopes of promotion.

Münster endured what was close to a disastrous start to the calendar year. Prior to last weekend they were winless in their opening six fixtures of 2026, a run that dragged them deep into the 2. Bundesliga relegation battle. They head into the weekend sitting 14th, just one point above the relegation playoff spot.

Their first win of the year arrived in timely fashion last time out away at Eintracht Braunschweig. Trailing 1-0 with just over 30 minutes remaining, the situation felt all too familiar for Ende’s side. However, Münster showed impressive spirit and resilience to turn the game around. Jorrit Hendrix equalised before Oliver Batista Meier struck 16 minutes from time to secure a vital 2-1 comeback victory.

Home form has been a concern of late, with Münster winless in their last six matches at the Preußenstadion. If they are to strengthen their survival hopes, turning their home ground back into a fortress will be crucial.

Hertha have also endured a difficult start to 2026. After being considered serious promotion contenders for much of the season, their recent form has seen those ambitions fade significantly. Two wins from their last five matches has not been enough to keep pace with the teams above them, and Leitl’s side enter the weekend eight points adrift of the promotion playoff place.

There was, however, cause for optimism last weekend as they picked up just their second victory of the year at home against Nürnberg. January signing Josip Brekalo opened the scoring before the visitors equalised on the stroke of half-time. With the match seemingly drifting toward a draw, Brekalo struck again two minutes from time to seal a dramatic and morale-boosting win for Die Alte Dame.

Hertha will be hoping their strong away form can continue here, having lost just one of their last six matches on the road.

H-2-H record 

Hertha claimed a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season thanks to a Sebastian Grønning brace. Die Alte Dame’s last win in Münster came in a DFB-Pokal meeting in 2021. The two coaches have faced each other twice previously, with Stefan Leitl coming out on top on both occasions.

Team news 

SC Preußen Münster: Paul Jaeckel is suspended while Malik Batmaz, Simon Scherder and Lars Lokotsch are unavailable due to injury. 

Hertha BSC: Diego Demme, Kennet Eichhorn, Maurice Krattenmacher, Marius Gersbeck and Deyo Zeefuik are unavailable. 

Predicted lineups 

SC Preußen Münster (4-4-2 Diamond): Schenk (GK) - ter Horst, Paetow, Heuer, Meyerhöfer - Benger - Bouchama, Hendrix - Yamada - Rondić, Batista Meier 

Hertha BSC (4-2-3-1): Ernst (GK) - Eitschberger, Gechter, Dardai, Karbownik - Sessa, Seguin - Reese, Cuisance, Brekalo - Schuler