2. Bundesliga Sunday Konferenz preview | OneFootball

Hertha BSC vs. SV Darmstadt

After an outstanding run of seven straight wins in all competitions heading into December, Hertha’s momentum has stalled. Stefan Leitl’s side are currently without a win in five matches since that streak ended, drawing four and losing once. That recent wobble leaves the capital club sixth in the table, six points adrift of the top three.

Leitl has underlined his squad’s determination to put an end to their stuttering form:

"I sense a certain anger in the team. If we play like we did in the last two games, then we should win these matches as well. We can look forward to the coming weeks and we control our own destiny for the rest of the season."  

Darmstadt, meanwhile, continue to go about their business with impressive efficiency under Florian Kohfeldt. Die Lilien are unbeaten in nine league matches, a run stretching back to late October, and last week’s 2-0 home win over Nürnberg kept them firmly on track. Sitting second, just two points behind leaders Schalke, Darmstadt remain in control of their promotion push - albeit with a tightly packed chasing pack close behind.

Kohfeldt insists his side are fully focused on the task at hand:

“We're confident, focused, and really eager. These are generally good conditions. We're concentrating solely on Berlin and nothing else. We're concentrating on our actions, what we want to do, and how we want to do it. That's an important attitude.”

The reverse fixture on matchday three ended goalless at the Bölle, with both defences on top. Hertha have lost just once in their last five meetings with Darmstadt, though Leitl is still searching for his first win over Kohfeldt (D2, L3).

Team news: 

Hertha BSC: Kennet Eichhorn, Diego Demme, Leon Jensen, Niklas Kolbe and Maurice Krattenmacher are all sidelined through injury. Deyo Zeefuik is suspended after collecting his fifth yellow card.

SV Darmstadt: Matthias Bader, Killian Corredor and Bartosz Bialek remain unavailable. 

Predicted lineups: 

Hertha BSC (4-2-3-1): Ernst (GK) - Gechter, Dardai, Leistner, Karbownik - Sessa, Seguin - Winkler, Cuisance, Reese - Kownacki 

SV Darmstadt (4-2-3-1): Schuhen (GK) - Lopez, Pfeiffer, Maglica, Nürnberger - Klefisch, Akiyama - Richter, Hornby, Marseiler - Lidberg 

Fortuna Düsseldorf vs. SC Paderborn

Just as Fortuna appeared to be finding momentum under Markus Anfang with back-to-back wins, they were halted last weekend by a 2-1 defeat away to promotion-chasing Hannover. Life after Daniel Thioune has proven difficult, with Düsseldorf winning just twice in Anfang’s 11 league matches in charge. They currently sit 16th, only a point clear of the automatic relegation places.

Anfang has urged unity and resilience as pressure mounts:

“We lost in Hannover, but we didn’t play badly and fought for a point even with ten men. The overall situation isn’t what we wanted, but now it’s about rolling up our sleeves and tackling it together. The team is capable of playing well. The goal is to keep three points at home.” 

Paderborn arrive in Düsseldorf with form that has been similarly inconsistent, having won only two of their last five league outings. Nevertheless, last week’s 2-1 home victory over Münster - inspired by a Steffen Tigges brace - was enough to lift Ralf Kettemann’s side into third place, one point ahead of Elversberg in fourth.

Goalkeeper Denis Seimen is expecting a tight contest:

“I expect a 50-50 game. They are undeservedly at the bottom of the table; they are always dangerous. We have to be prepared for anything. If we can bring our strengths to the pitch from the first to the 90th minute, we can also leave the field as winners."

Fortuna claimed a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture back in August at the Home Deluxe Arena. The last five meetings are evenly balanced with two wins apiece, while this will be the first managerial duel between Anfang and Kettemann.

Team news: 

Fortuna Düsseldorf: Hamza Anhari, Florian Schock, Tim Rossmann, Julian Hettwer and Tim Breithaupt are sidelined with injuries. Elias Egouli is suspended following his red card against Hannover.

SC Paderborn: Marcel Hoffmeier, Calvin Brackelmann and Anton Bäuerle are unavailable. 

Predicted lineups: 

Fortuna Düsseldorf (3-4-2-1): Kastenmeier (GK) - Oberdorf, Daland, Schmidt - Zimmermann, Tanaka, El Azzouzi, Muslija - Rasmussen, Suso - Itten 

SC Paderborn (3-4-3): Seimen (GK) - Hansen, Götze, Scheller - Curda, Baur, Castaneda, Obermair - Klaas, Tigges, Bilbija 

Dynamo Dresden vs. Arminia Bielefeld

Dresden appear to be finding form at the perfect moment. Thomas Stamm’s side have begun 2026 with two consecutive wins - already just one shy of matching their total from the entire first half of the season. Last weekend’s 2-1 derby victory away at Magdeburg has moved Dynamo to within a single point of escaping the relegation zone, and a win here could see them leapfrog Sunday’s opponents.

Stamm, however, is ignoring talk of a winning streak and focusing only on the game at hand:

“Of course, a winning streak gives you a different sense of confidence, but in my opinion, that only happens after four or five games. The recent results give us courage and conviction, but what's more important for our morale is that we can overtake an opponent in the table again in a direct encounter.”

Bielefeld, by contrast, have endured a downturn at precisely the wrong time. After a promising start following their return to the 2. Bundesliga, Mitch Kniat’s side are now winless in seven league matches, a run dating back to early November. They sit 14th, just one point above the automatic relegation places.

Kniat has called on his players to be switched on from the first whistle:

“In the 2nd division, mistakes are punished much more quickly than before, so we have to learn to give the opponent fewer chances. This is primarily a question of focus and conviction – and that has to be there from the very first second on Sunday.”

Dresden edged the reverse fixture in dramatic fashion on matchday three, winning 2-1 at the SchücoArena courtesy of Luca Herrmann’s 100th-minute winner. Kniat is yet to taste victory against Dynamo, losing six of seven meetings, while Stamm holds the overall edge between the two coaches with four wins from eight encounters.

Team news: 

Dynamo Dresden: Lennart Grill and Dominik Kother are unavailable. 

Arminia Bielefeld: Joel Felix and Jeredy Hilterman miss out through injury, while new signing Robin Knoche is in line to make his debut.

Predicted lineups: 

Dynamo Dresden (4-2-3-1): Schreiber (GK) - Faber, Pauli, Keller, Rossipal - Amoako, Wagner - Lemmer, Hauptmann, Ceka - Vermeij 

Arminia Bielefeld (4-3-3): Lannert, Großer, Knoche, Sicker - Corboz, Russo, Wörl - Momuluh, Telalovic, Grodowski