2. Bundesliga Saturday Konferenz: Fortuna host Hannover in the pick of the bunch | OneFootball

Darmstadt climbed to the top of the 2. Bundesliga table on Friday with a late winner in SC Preußen Münster, while Paderborn could only conjure a draw away at SC Preußen Münster. The action continues on Saturday with four games, including three simultaneous fixtures in the afternoon.

Fortuna Düsseldorf vs. Hannover 96

The opening matchday started the way Fortuna fans envisaged until one refereeing decision ruined it all just before the half-time break. Debutants Christian Rasmussen and Cedric Itten combined for a brilliant goal before Tim Oberdorf’s red card kickstarted Arminia Bielefeld’s sensational comeback.

However, even the 5-1 defeat didn’t deter the fans from dreaming of a Bundesliga promotion, as F95 added another marquee signing to their impressive squad. Florent Muslija, who struggled for game time in Freiburg after a superb spell with Paderborn, returns to 2. Bundesliga on an initial loan deal.

They will face another tricky fixture on Saturday, though. Hannover started the new campaign with a win, thanks to their new signing Noel Aseko. The 19-year-old defensive midfielder, who signed on loan from Bayern II, scored the winner against Kaiserslautern on his 2. Bundesliga debut.

Christian Titz’s starting XI was the youngest on the opening matchday after Paderborn’s lineup against Holstein Kiel. After last season’s spectacular fifth-place finish with Magdeburg, Titz will have a great chance at a Bundesliga promotion with the traditional club.

Team news

Daniel Thioune will have to, at least, make two changes from last week’s lineup. Oberdorf is suspended for this one, while Emmanuel Iyoha suffers an injury that will keep him out until mid-September.

Similarly, Hannover’s Waniss Taïbi will spend some time on the sidelines after picking up an injury in the win over Kaiserslautern. Luckily, his replacement did score the only goal of the game.

Predicted lineups:

Fortuna: Kastenmeier ©; Zimmermann, Siebert, Schmidt, Lenz; El Azzouzi; Rasmussen, Alexandropoulos, Appelkamp, Rossmann; Itten

Hannover: Noll; Ghita, Tomiak, Okon; Matsuda, Aseko, Leopold ©, Neubauer; Bundu, Chakroun; Pichler

Eintracht Braunschweig vs. Greuther Fürth

Braunschweig barely survived last season, but they were the only team to win away from home in last week’s first matchday. Mehmet Aydin, who only had one goal in the past five seasons, scored the winner on his debut despite Braunschweig being reduced to ten players against Magdeburg.

Fürth also started with a win as Noel Futkeu scored a brace in a 3-2 win against newly-promoted Dynamo Dresden. The final score could still cause a bit of disappointment for Fürth, considering Thomas Kleine’s side was leading 2-0 inside the first ten minutes.

Team news

No changes will be expected from Fürth after their winning start to the campaign. Louis Breunig replacing the suspended Kevin Ehlers could also be Braunschweig’s only change from last week.

Predicted lineups:

Braunschweig: Hoffmann; Breunig, Köhler ©, Frenkert; Aydin, Heußer, Marie, Di Michele Sanchez; Tempelmann; Yardimci, Conteh

Fürth: Boevink; Dietz, Ziereis, Bjarnason; Dehm, Olesen, Münz; Klaus, Green; Hrgota ©, Futkeu

Dynamo Dresden vs. 1.FC Magdeburg

When Dynamo Dresden and Magdeburg last met in 2021, it was a 3. Liga fixture. Dresden will aim for survival in their return to 2. Bundesliga, while Magdeburg could struggle in their first season without their long-serving coach Titz.

Both teams lost on the opening weekend, but it could’ve gone the other way. Dresden scored two goals away in Fürth, while Magdeburg narrowly lost to Braunschweig. Saturday’s clash promises a first point(s) on the board for, at least, one of the teams.

Team news

Jakob Zickler is the only Dresden player out of the game as the 19-year-old attacking midfielder is recovering from a shoulder injury. Daniel Heber, who was a regular fixture for Magdeburg in the past couple of seasons, will be missing once again as he makes his comeback to full training.

Predicted lineups:

Dresden: Schreiber; Faber, Kammerknecht, Bünning, Rossipal; Sapina ©; Casar, Oehmichen; Lemmer, Daferner, Fröling

Magdeburg: Reimann ©; Hugonet, Mathisen, Müller; Bockhorn, Gnaka, Ulrich, Nollenberger; Musonda, Atik; Kaars