2. Bundesliga Sunday Preview: Team news and predicted lineups

The top two teams in 2. Bundesliga will play away from home in the closing fixtures of 2025.

Eintracht Braunschweig vs. FC Schalke 04

Schalke confirmed to end the year at the top of the table with a narrow win over Nürnberg in matchday 16. Miron Muslić’s side scored fewer goals than bottom-placed Dynamo Dresden, but their solid defensive record suddenly made them the favorites for promotion.

Braunschweig are in the other half of the standings, although they also enjoyed the past few weeks. The Lions picked up seven points from their last three games after ending a four-game losing streak.

Team News

With both teams coming to the fixture in great form and no new injuries reported, there is a possibility of no changes in either lineup.

Predicted Lineups

Braunschweig: Hoffmann ©; Ehlers, Nkoa, Frenkert; Gomez, Aydin, Marie, Bell Bell; Heußer; Yardimci, Conteh

Schalke: Karius; Ayhan, Katic, Kurucay; Wallentowitz, El-Faouzi, Schallenberg, Becker; Antwi-Adjei, Karaman ©; Sylla

Preußen Münster vs. SV 07 Elversberg

Narrow wins over Paderborn and Düsseldorf had the perennial overachievers Elversberg in second place with only a single matchday before the winter break. And, after the 2-2 draw between Paderborn and Darmstadt, they’ll start the new year there unless they lose by a five-goal margin in Münster.

As for the hosts, they could climb to the top half with only their second win in six matches. Alexander Ende’s side faced two promotion hopefuls in the last couple of weeks with a battling draw with Hannover followed up by a narrow defeat in Darmstadt.

Team News

Apart from long-term injuries, both coaches have full squads to choose from for the last game of the year.

Predicted Lineups

Münster: Schenk; ter Horst, Heuer, Jaeckel, Bolay; Benger; Bouchama, Hendrix ©; Mees; Lokotsch, Batista Meier

Elversberg: Kristof; Gyamerah, Pinckert ©, Le Joncour, Keidel; Schmahl, Poreba; Petkov, Conté, Zimmerschied; Ebnoutalib

1. FC Nürnberg vs. Hannover 96    

Miroslav Klose’s Nürnberg had an up-and-down Hinrunde after the promising few months last season. They started the season on the wrong foot, but results began to improve in October. The goal was to carry that momentum into the new year, but they only managed a single point from the last three matches.

Hannover also failed to win their last couple of games, but the draw between Paderborn and Darmstadt opened the gates for them to end the year closer to the chasing pack for promotion. With a win in Nürnberg, Hannover can close the gap between themselves and the second-placed team to a single point.

Team News

Nürnberg’s midfielder Adam Markhiev will be absent because of accumulated yellow cards. Hayate Matsuda and Havard Nielsen are doubts for the visitors due to illness.

Predicted Lineups

Nürnberg: Reichert; Drexler, Gruber ©, Lochoshvili, Yilmaz; Lubach; Becker, Diop; Justvan, Grimaldi, Zoma  

Hannover: Noll; Ghita, Tomiak, Okon; Leopold ©; Matsuda, Aseko Nkili, Neubauer; Yokota, Oudenne; Källman