2. Bundesliga preview: Arminia Bielefeld vs. Hannover 96 | OneFootball

Arminia Bielefeld

Bielefeld head into the weekend in 11th place on 27 points, four clear of the relegation zone. Just when it looked as though they were beginning to create some breathing room courtesy of a four-match unbeaten run, the unforgiving nature of the 2. Bundesliga struck again.

A trip to a struggling Greuther Fürth side offered the perfect opportunity to extend their momentum. Instead, Mitch Kniat’s team delivered a blunt attacking display. Robin Knoche’s 19th-minute equaliser - their only shot on target all evening - cancelled out Branimir Hrgota’s early opener, but Dennis Srbeny struck shortly after the restart to hand Fürth all three points and drag the lower half of the table back into a congested battle.

Kniat has since demanded greater conviction in the final third:

“We have to engage in and win our challenges in the final third. If we manage that, we need to find good solutions in possession and be more purposeful in attack than we were last week. We have to see this game as an opportunity to prove that we can beat a big team.”

The encounter also carries a personal subplot. Kniat is still searching for his first victory against his former manager Christian Titz - a coach he once played under and captained - having failed to win either of their previous meetings. Encouragingly for the hosts, Bielefeld are unbeaten in their last three home fixtures.

Team news: Felix Hagmann and Isaiah Young are unavailable. 

Predicted lineup (4-3-3): Kersken (GK) - Boakye, Bauer, Knoche, Handwerker - Wörl, Russo, Corboz - Momuluh, Uldrikis, Grodowski 

Hannover 96

Hannover’s campaign has been defined by inconsistency, preventing them from firmly establishing themselves inside the top four. Christian Titz’s side currently sit fifth, just three points shy of second place, yet they remain stuck on the outside looking in.

Their frustrations resurfaced last weekend in a goalless draw at home to relegation-threatened Dresden. Despite dominating possession and territory, the in-form Benjamin Källman was kept quiet by a disciplined visiting defence, bringing Hannover’s four-match winning run to an abrupt halt.

Titz is looking forward to once again coming up against a former player of his, saying their managerial meetings are “always very relaxed and pleasant because we know each other very well and exchange ideas.” While going on to express his happiness for Kniat following the same career path as himself “I had him as a young lad as a player and I am pleased that he has also taken this path, seized this opportunity for himself and prevailed.”

Hannover can draw confidence from September’s reverse fixture, where they secured a 3-1 victory thanks to goals from Husseyn Chakroun, Hayate Matsuda and Boris Tomiak. They have also won their last two away matches - a record that strengthens their case heading into Saturday’s contest.

Team news: Virgil Ghiță and Boris Tomiak are unavailable.  

Predicted lineup (3-4-3): Noll (GK) - Blank, Nawrocki, Okon - Neubauer, Leopold, Aséko-Nkili, Oudenne - Yokota, Källman, Saad