2. Bundesliga: Matchday 4 Preview
As the 2. Bundesliga is a couple of matchdays ahead of the Bundesliga, it is going to be the fourth matchday for the 18 second division clubs.
Here is the preview of all 9 matches.
Friday 20th September - all kick-offs 18:30 local
Here is the preview of all 9 matches.
Fortuna Düsseldorf vs Holstein Kiel
Fortuna have never won against Holstein Kiel in the 2. Bundesliga, and they've only actually beaten The Storks three times in 13 attempts. The last win came in 2006, when current Bremen coach Markus Anfang scored for 'Die Rheinländer'. Kiel won both matches last season.
Here's what Fortuna coach Preußer says:
"We're looking forward to our home game. I hope that many fans will come and support us! We saw against Bremen what this energy and power our fans can give us."
Expected line-ups
Fortuna Düsseldorf: Kastenmeier - Narey, Klarer, Nedelcu, Koutris - Prib - Klaus, Appelkamp, Ao Tanaka, Peterson - Hennings.
Holstein Kiel: Gelios - Korb, Wahl, Thesker, van den Bergh - Erras - Mühling, Sander - Bartels, Reese, Mees
What channel is the match on?
Austria: Sky Go, Sky Sport Bundesliga 2
Bulgaria: Nova Sport Bulgaria
Czech Republic: Nova Sport 3
Estonia: Viaplay Estonia
Germany: Sky Sport Bundesliga 2, Sky Go, Sky Ticket
Hungary: Arena4
International: Onefootball
Israel: Sport 1
Latvia: Viaplay Latvia
Lithuania: Viaplay Lithuania
Portugal: Eleven Sports 1 Portugal
Russia: matchtv. ru
Slovakia: Nova Sport 3
Slovenia: ŠTV 1
Switzerland: Sky Sport Bundesliga 2
Turkey: Tivibu Spor 2, beIN CONNECT Turkey
Ukraine: Setanta Sports Ukraine
Hannover 96 vs FC Heidenheim
We're expecting a more balanced game in Hannover, as both teams are level in the head-to-head. All of the 6 matches between Hannover and Heidenheim have been played in the 2. Bundesliga, with both teams winning 3 each. However, last season Heidenheim won both matches.
Here's what the current longest serving 2. Bundesliga coach, Frank Schmidt, says about the match:
"We're preparing for the fact that after the last home defeat against Rostock, in Hannover things will be different against us. We're going to Hannover, however, and want to win the game."
Expected line-ups
Hannover 96: Zieler - Muroya, M. Franke, Börner, Dehm - D. Kaiser, S. Ernst - Maina, Kerk, Ochs - Ducksch
FC Heidenheim: Ke. Müller - Busch, P. Mainka, Hüsing, Theuerkauf - Schöppner, Burnic - T. Mohr, Thomalla - Schimmer, Kleindienst
What channel is the match on?
Austria: Sky Go, Sky Sport Bundesliga 3
Germany: Sky Go, Sky Ticket, Sky Sport Bundesliga 3
International: Onefootball
Russia: matchtv. ru
Slovenia: ŠTV 3
Switzerland: Sky Sport Bundesliga 3
Turkey: beIN CONNECT Turkey, Tivibu Spor 3
Saturday 21st September - all kick-offs 13:30 local unless specified
Karlsruher SC vs Werder Bremen
There has been a lot of history between the two sides, with 46 games played between the two teams. This will be the first time that Karlsruhe and Werder battle against one another in the 2. Bundesliga. The last Werder victory at the Wildparkstadion was in 1996, a 1-3 away win for Bremen on the day. Werder Bremen need a result as tension rises between the fans and the club, this will be far from easy for Markus Anfang, facing a red-hot Philipp Hofmann, who has three goals in three matches.
Expected line-ups
Karlsruhe: Gersbeck - S. Jung, Gordon, Kobald, Heise - Wanitzek, Gondorf, Choi - Kaufmann, P. Hofmann, Schleusener
Werder Bremen: Zetterer - Mbom, L. Mai, A. Jung, Friedl - Rapp - Schmid, N. Schmidt - Dinkci, Agu - Füllkrug
What channel is the match on?
Austria: Sky Go, Sky Sport Bundesliga 4
Bulgaria: Play Diema Xtra, Diema Sport 3
Czech Republic: Nova Sport 3, Nova Sport 4
Denmark: Viaplay Denmark
Estonia: Viaplay Estonia
Finland: Elisa Viihde Viaplay
Germany: Sky Go, Sky Sport Bundesliga 4, Sky Ticket
Hungary Arena4
Iceland: Viaplay Iceland
International: Onefootball
Israel: Sport 3
Lithuania: Viaplay Lithuania
Norway: Viaplay Norway, V Sport+
Portugal: Eleven Sports 3 Portugal
Russia: Sportbox. ru, matchtv. ru, Match! Football 3
Slovakia: Nova Sport 4, Nova Sport 3
Slovenia: ŠTV 1
Sweden: Viaplay Sweden
Switzerland: Sky Sport Bundesliga 4
Turkey: beIN CONNECT Turkey, Tivibu Spor 2
SC Paderborn vs FC St. Pauli
Paderborn have had a very good record against St. Pauli, scoring the most goals against a single club in their history (27). They beat St. Pauli 2-0 in both matches last season and 'Kiezkicker' have only beaten the East Westfalen side twice in eleven attempts. In addition, no current St. Pauli player has ever scored against Paderborn.
Here's what Kwasniok says about the match:
"Hopefully we will continue to be just as successful against FC St. Pauli. But we still have to improve. It is no coincidence that St. Pauli have been winning. They're a good to possibly very good second division team that may end up having a say in promotion."
Expected line-ups
SC Paderborn: Huth - Ma. Schuster, Hünemeier, van der Werff, Collins - Schallenberg - Justvan, Thalhammer - Srbeny - Platte, Michel
FC St. Pauli: Vasilj - Zander, Ziereis, Medic, Paqarada - Smith - Becker, Hartel - Kyereh - Makienok, Burgstaller
What channel is the match on?
Austria: Sky Go, Sky Sport Bundesliga 6
Germany: Sky Go, Sky Ticket, Sky Sport Bundesliga 6
International: Onefootball
Russia: matchtv. ru
Slovenia: ŠTV 3
Switzerland: Sky Sport Bundesliga 6
Turkey: beIN CONNECT Turkey, Tivibu Spor 3
SSV Jahn Regensburg vs Schalke 04
The final of the Saturday afternoon's action sees current top-of-the-league SSV Jahn Regensburg face Schalke 04, the first time the two teams will ever play in a league fixture. They have only faced once ever before, this was 1954 in the DFB-Pokal. Jahn kept the match at a 1-1 scoreline after extra time, instead of the game going to a penalty shootout there was a second leg and Schalke won it 6-4 at home. Simon Terodde is one to watch out for if you're an SSV fan, he's scored four times in six meetings against Regensburg, twice for Union Berlin and then one each for HSV and 1. FC Köln.
Here's what Grammozis had to say:
"I'm not surprised that Regensburg is at the top. They benefit from the well-rehearsed position. They have a good mix of running-intensive game and footballing resources. We know that every opponent will challenge us in the second division. But we have to concentrate on ourselves. We have a great team. We want to bring our style to the field in Regensburg."
Expected line-ups
SSV Jahn Regensburg: A. Meyer - Faber, S. Breitkreuz, Kennedy, Wekesser - Besuschkow, Gimber - Beste, Singh - Albers, D. Otto
Schalke 04: Fährmann - Thiaw, Wouters, M. Kaminski - Palsson - Aydin, Ouwejan - Zalazar, Drexler - Terodde, Bülter
What channel is the match on?
Austria: Sky Go, Sky Sport Bundesliga 9, Sky Sport Bundesliga 5
Germany: Sky Go, Sky Sport Bundesliga 5, Sky Ticket, Sky Sport Bundesliga 9
International: Onefootball
Portugal: Eleven Sports 1 Portugal
Russia: matchtv. ru
Slovenia: ŠTV 2
Switzerland: Sky Sport Bundesliga 5, Sky Sport Bundesliga 9
Turkey: beIN CONNECT Turkey, Tivibu Spor 4
FC Hansa Rostock vs Dynamo Dresden - 20:30 local
The Saturday 'Topspiel', which follows Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Borussia Mönchengladbach, is Hansa Rostock against Dynamo Dresden. Hansa have had a really poor record facing Dresden, with SGD winning the last three games at the Ostseestadion by a scoreline of 1-3.The 1-3 win for Dynamo last season was the first and only time Hansa conceded 2 or more goals in a match in 2020/21. It is the battle of the two automatically promoted teams, Rostock will be looking for their first ever win against Dynamo Dresden in the 2. Bundesliga (2 draws, 2 losses).
Rostock coach Härtel:
"Dresden had a great start in the league and also in the cup. It will be a match at eye level. The fans are longing for us to beat Dresden. We will have to go to our limit."
Expected line-ups
FC Hansa Rostock: Klatte - Neidhart, Meißner, Roßbach, J. Meier - H. Behrens, Bahn - Rizzuto, Ingelsson, Mamba - Verhoek
Dynamo Dresden: K. Broll - Akoto, Sollbauer, Knipping, C. Löwe - Y. Stark - M. Schröter, Kade - Mörschel - Königsdörffer, Daferner
What channel is the match on?
Austria: Sky Sport Bundesliga 2, Sky Go, Sky Sport Bundesliga UHD
Bulgaria: Nova Sport Bulgaria
Germany: Sky Go, Sky Ticket, Sky Sport Bundesliga 2, Sport1, Sky Sport Bundesliga UHD
Hungary: Arena4
International: Onefootball
Russia: matchtv. ru
Slovenia: ŠTV 2
Switzerland: Sky Sport Bundesliga 2
Turkey: beIN CONNECT Turkey, Tivibu Spor 3
Sunday 22nd September - all kick-offs 13:30 local
Hamburger SV vs Darmstadt 98
Darmstadt go to Hamburg after a 6-1 win at home to Ingolstadt. Of all the six 2. Bundesliga meetings between HSV and D98, the home team has never won. Hamburger SV haven't struggled as a whole against Darmstadt, 'Die Rothosen' have only lost 4 times in 16 matches, however all of the 4 defeats were at the Volksparkstadion. The last home win for HSV against Darmstadt was 40 years ago, a 6-1 win which led the Hamburg team to win the Bundesliga title in the same season. Klaus Gjasula is set to make his first ever appearance for 'Die Lilien' as he transferred from HSV to Darmstadt just last week.
Expected line-ups
Hamburger SV: Heuer Fernandes - Gyamerah, David, Schonlau, Leibold - Meffert - Heyer, Reis - Jatta, Glatzel, Kittel
Darmstadt 98: Schuhen - Bader, P. Pfeiffer, Riedel, Holland - Gjasula - Goller, Schnellhardt, Karic - P. Tietz, L. Pfeiffer
What channel is the match on?
Albania: SuperSport 3 Digital
Austria: Sky Sport Bundesliga 2, Sky Go
Belgium: Play Sports, Eleven Sports 1 Belgium
Czech Republic: Nova Sport 3
Estonia: Viaplay Estonia
Germany: Sky Sport Bundesliga 2, Sky Ticket, Sky Go
Iceland: Viaplay Iceland
International: Onefootball
Israel: Sport 3
Kosovo: IPKO TVim
Latvia: Viaplay Latvia
Lithuania: Viaplay Lithuania
Luxembourg: Eleven Sports 1 Belgium
Russia: matchtv. ru
Slovakia: Nova Sport 3
Slovenia: ŠTV 1
Switzerland: Sky Sport Bundesliga 2
Turkey: beIN CONNECT Turkey
United States: ESPN+
Erzgebirge Aue vs SV Sandhausen
The two smallest 2. Bundesliga locations battle on the Sunday as Aue and Sandhausen (both with a population of less than 20,000 people) are playing in their 10th and 6th Second Bundesliga season respectively. Erzgebirge Aue have the historical advantage against their small opponent, winning 10 of the 20 matches between the two. Sandhausen have only won 4 in 20 attempts. However, don't be surprised if you see Pascal Testroet on the score-sheet for the away side, he scored 5 goals against Sandhausen when he was an Aue player. It's written in the books for a Testroet goal for the Baden-Württemberg team.
Expected line-ups
Erzgebirge Aue: Männel - Carlson, Gonther, Bussmann - Strauß, Fandrich, Messeguem, Härtel - Nazarov - Zolinski, Gueye
SV Sandhausen: Drewes - Ajdini, Höhn, Zhirov, Okoroji - Bachmann - Zenga, Sicker, Ritzmaier, Esswein - Keita-Ruel
What channel is the match on?
Austria: Sky Go, Sky Sport Bundesliga 4
Germany Sky Go, Sky Ticket, Sky Sport Bundesliga 1, Sky Sport Bundesliga 4
International: Onefootball
Russia: matchtv. ru
Switzerland: Sky Sport Bundesliga 4
Turkey: beIN CONNECT Turkey
FC Ingolstadt 04 vs 1. FC Nürnberg
The final match on Sunday sees a repeat of the 2019/20 3. Liga relegation playoffs. After a 2-0 defeat in the first leg, Ingolstadt regrouped and were winning 3-2 on aggregate in the second leg. Until the sixth minute of stoppage time. Then, Fabian Schleusener scored to make the second leg 3-1 and on aggregate 3-3, thanks to the away goal rule Nürnberg remained in the 2. Bundesliga. Mats Möller Daehli may be the Nürnberg lucky charm against Ingolstadt, he's won all three of his 2. Bundesliga matches with St. Pauli facing FCI, all with a scoreline of 1-0.
Expected line-ups
FC Ingolstadt 04: Buntic - Heinloth, Röseler, Antonitsch, D. Franke - M. Stendera, Linsmayer - Röhl, Bilbija - Eckert Ayensa, Kutschke
1. FC Nürnberg: Mathenia - Valentini, Schindler, Sörensen, Handwerker - Geis - Krauß, Nürnberger - Möller Daehli - Shuranov, Borkowski
What channel is the match on?
Austria: Sky Go, Sky Sport Bundesliga 3
Bulgaria: Play Diema Xtra, Diema Sport 3
Germany: Sky Go, Sky Ticket, Sky Sport Bundesliga 3
International: Onefootball
Russia: matchtv. ru
Slovenia: ŠTV 3
Switzerland: Sky Sport Bundesliga 3
Turkey: beIN CONNECT Turkey
If you would like more in-depth 2. Bundesliga analysis, check out 5 things we learned from Matchday 3 in the 2. Bundesliga.