2. Bundesliga preview: 1. FC Magdeburg vs. Arminia Bielefeld

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·14 February 2026

2. Bundesliga preview: 1. FC Magdeburg vs. Arminia Bielefeld

With the relegation scrap in the 2. Bundesliga tighter than ever, Sunday’s meeting in Saxony-Anhalt carries enormous weight. Both Petrik Sander’s Magdeburg and Mitch Kniat’s Bielefeld hover nervously above the drop zone, knowing three points could provide vital breathing space - while defeat would drag them deeper into danger.

The Magdeburg turnaround under Petrik Sander has been impressive. What once looked like a campaign spiralling towards disappointment has been steadied, even energised, since the change in the dugout. Key figures have flourished - none more so than Mateusz Żukowski, whose nine goals in nine games underline his red-hot form.

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Magdeburg currently sit 15th, just two points clear of the automatic relegation places - hardly comfortable, but a marked improvement from where they stood earlier in the season.

Last weekend’s chaotic 5-4 victory away at Fürth perfectly encapsulated their campaign so far. Racing into a 5-1 lead inside 33 minutes featuring a Żukowski hat-trick, Magdeburg appeared home and dry, only to be pegged back in a frantic finale before ultimately clinging on for a crucial win.

Sander expects another demanding afternoon:

"It will be a very high-intensity game. Bielefeld comes with the momentum of their victory last weekend. As usual, we want to stay focused on ourselves and our own game,"

For Bielefeld, the trajectory has been less encouraging. After a promising return to the 2. Bundesliga, Mitch Kniat’s side have stalled badly, winning just one of their last nine matches and slipping to 12th - only three points above the automatic relegation spots heading into the weekend.

That solitary win in the run, however, arrived at precisely the right time. A 3-2 triumph over fellow strugglers Braunschweig at the SchücoArena - powered by a Roberts Uldrikis brace and a strike from Marius Wörl - ended a drought stretching back to early November and restored some much-needed belief.

Kniat has demanded intensity from the outset:

“We have to stay focused and keep pushing. We have to be aggressive and hungry and go for the challenges. The key is to be there from the first minute, ideally take an early lead again, and stay focused for the full 90 minutes. Then I'm convinced we can get points again. It's important that we perform as a cohesive unit.”

Bielefeld claimed the reverse fixture 2-0 on matchday five courtesy of goals from Mael Corboz and Joel Grodowski. However, their away form remains a major concern, having not won on the road since August.