2. Bundesliga Sunday Konferenz: Previews, team news and predicted lineups | OneFootball

1. FC Nürnberg vs. Hertha BSC

Miroslav Klose’s Nürnberg side have endured a difficult start, sitting 16th after six games with pressure mounting on the head coach. However, last week’s 2-1 victory over Bochum finally gave Der Club their first win of the campaign whilst Klose was lauded with support from fans, sparking hope that a turning point may be near.

Facing a fellow early struggler, Klose knows his side have to show up this weekend: “I hoped that the composure would return after the win over Bochum. I saw a lot of that during the week. But what I liked most was the attitude of the lads. We know we have to deliver."

Hertha, meanwhile, find themselves in deep trouble both on and off the pitch. With financial pressures looming, Stefan Leitl’s side have failed to provide relief on the field, their struggles raising repeated questions over the coach’s future. A 2-0 home defeat to Paderborn last weekend underlined the scale of the task ahead. Die Alte Dame sit 14th after six games, far removed from pre-season promotion ambitions.

Ahead of the game, Leitl set out the task for his team: "We have to bring our performance and activity as a team to the field. Then we are convinced that we will score in Nuremberg!”

Nürnberg haven’t beaten Hertha since 2023. The side from the capital took four points from the two meetings last season, including a 2-0 win at the Max-Morlock-Stadion - a result Leitl will no doubt remind his players of as they chase a potentially job-saving victory.

Team news:

Nürnberg: Henri Koudossou joins the absentee list, with Tarek Buchmann, Noah Maboulou and Danilo Soares also unavailable. Tim Janisch and Tim Drexler have both trained this week in hopes of a return to the squad.

Hertha BSC: Despite returning to training, the game may well have come too soon for Paul Seguin, Jay Brooks and Diego Demme. Niklas Kolbe and Pascal Klemens remain unavailable. Forward Dawid Kownacki is expected to be a late decision after a head injury sustained against Paderborn.

Predicted lineups:

Nürnberg (4-3-3): Reichert (GK) - Janisch, Gruber, Lochoshvili, Yilmaz - Markhiev, Becker, Demba Diop - Justvan, Lubach, Zoma

Hertha BSC (4-2-3-1): Ernst (GK) - Eitschberger, Leistner, Dardai, Zeefuik - Jensen, Eichhorn - Winkler, Cuisance, Reese - Grönning

Hannover 96 vs. Arminia Bielefeld

After a bright start, Hannover have stumbled in recent weeks, losing at home to Hertha before a 2-2 draw away at Dynamo Dresden, who played much of the second half with ten men. Despite the setbacks, Christian Titz’s side remain 4th with 13 points, and victory on Sunday could bring them level with league leaders Darmstadt.

Needing to regain some of the early momentum squandered in the last few weeks, Titz has reiterated his side want to play on the front foot: “We're facing a team that stands for fast, powerful football. We're also a team that wants to play actively. It's going to be interesting.”

Arminia suffered a harsh reality check last weekend, falling 3-0 at home to Greuther Fürth. Still, Mitch Kniat’s men sit 8th with ten points from six games - an impressive return for a newly promoted side with the chance to break into the top three this weekend should results go their way.

Ahead of the game, Kniat has suggested his side have learnt from last week’s mistakes: “We gave the opponent too much space, and Fürth took advantage of that - and Hanover would do the same. But the boys are willing, they're working hard, and that's why I'm not worried. I hope we can bring what we set out to do onto the pitch. Then I'm convinced it will be a very attractive second-division game.”

The sides last met in the DFB-Pokal, where Arminia won 2-0 on their way to a remarkable run to the final. Unbeaten away from home so far, Kniat’s men will hope for another inspired display on the road.

Team news:

Hannover 96: Forward Benedikt Pichler sustained a knee injury in Dresden and will be out until further notice, Mustapha Bundu has increased his workload but is still a doubt for Sunday’s game.

Arminia Bielefeld: Marius Wörl’s knock is less serious than feared and he should be available, with Benjamin Boakye also likely to return. Noah Sarenren Bazee, Tim Handwerker, Jeredy Hilterman and Roberts Uldrikis are still out.

Predicted lineups:

Hannover 96 (3-4-2-1): Noll (GK) - Okon, Tomiak, Ghiță - Neubauer, Leopold, Aséko Nkili, Matsuda - Rochelt, Yokota - Källman

Arminia Bielefeld (4-3-3): Kersken (GK) - Momuluh, Schneider, Großer, Hagmann - Mehlem, Russo, Corboz - Young, Grodowski, Wörl

Preußen Münster vs. Eintracht Braunschweig

Pre-season predictions had Münster pegged for a relegation fight, but Alexander Ende’s men currently sit 11th on seven points, three clear of the drop zone. That said, consecutive defeats to Fortuna Düsseldorf and Kaiserslautern have stalled momentum, leaving the Prussians in need of a response.

In the build up to the game, Ende has highlighted the quality of their opponents as a stark reminder for his team: “They will not make it easy for us, they have a good team with a lot of pace up front. We have to keep our foot on the gas in the spaces that open up, then we'll have opportunities to turn the game around.”

Braunschweig started well, taking seven points from their first four matches, despite winning their first two they’ve since gone winless in four, including a 4-1 home thrashing by Elversberg last time out. Heiner Backhaus is desperate for a reaction. The head coach has called for calm within the ranks ahead of the weekend’s fixture: “The boys might put too much pressure on themselves and want to rectify the mistake immediately. That's good in principle, but there's a bit more power in staying calm than putting too much energy into it.”

Both meetings last season ended in a 1-1 draw, suggesting there’s not much to separate the two sides though both will be aiming to flip that narrative on its head this weekend. Münster haven’t won in Braunschweig since 2004, a curse Ende will be desperate to put to bed this time around.

Team news:

Preußen Münster: There are no fresh injury concerns, although Joshua Mees and Antonio Tikvic remain out for the hosts.

Eintracht Braunschweig: Lukas Frenkert, Fredrik Jäkel, Sidney Raebiger and Lino Tempelmann are out for the visitors. Midfielder Robin Heußer also misses out due to suspension.

Predicted lineups:

Preußen Münster (4-4-2 Diamond): Schenk (GK) - ter Horst, Heuer, Jaeckel, Kirkeskov - Preißinger, Schulz, Hendrix, Batista Meier - Lokotsch, Amenyido

Eintracht Braunschweig (3-3-2-2): Hoffmann (GK) - Ehlers, Köhler, Breunig - Aydin, Flick, Di Michele Sanchez - Bell Bell, Marie - Yardimci, Conteh