2. Bundesliga Saturday Konferenz Preview: Schalke host Kiel, Nürnberg search maiden win | OneFootball

Schalke and Karlsruhe will hope to extend their positive start to the season when they host Holstein Kiel and Nürnberg, respectively. Meanwhile, Darmstadt and Eintracht Braunschweig face each other after collecting seven points from the first four rounds.

Schalke 04 vs. Holstein Kiel

Holstein Kiel beat Schalke home and away in the season where they eventually got promoted to the Bundesliga, but Marcel Rapp’s side has had a slow start to this campaign. On the contrary, Schalke managed to win three of the four games, including their first two at Veltins-Arena.

With Finn Porath and the return of Finn Becker, Schalke signed two players from Kiel this summer. Miron Muslic’s team completed their window with Pape Meïssa Ba’s move to Polish side Widzew Lodz. Meanwhile, Moussa Sylla will stay at the club at least until January’s window, and they’ve added another striker on deadline day in Christian Gomis.

Kiel had to deal with a major rebuilding after their debut Bundesliga season ended in relegation. Although they’ve only managed a single win so far, it came in their last game away from home at Fürth.

Team News:

After his future was settled, Sylla could replace Emil Højlund up front, while Kennan Karaman hopes to continue his good form as the left-sided number 10 in Muslic’s 3-4-2-1 system. Few changes are expected in Kiel’s lineup from the one used in a 2-1 defeat to Hannover before the international break.

Predicted Lineups:

Schalke: Karius; Timo Becker, Katic, Kurucay; Porath, Schallenberg, El-Faouzi, Vitalie Becker; Karaman ©, Antwi-Adjei; Sylla

Kiel: Krumrey; Zec, Johansson, Komenda; Bernhardsson, Knudsen, Schwab, Tolkin; Therkelsen; Skrzybski ©, Kapralik

Karlsruher SC vs. 1. FC Nürnberg

There were eight goals in the two meetings between the sides last season. Karlsruhe were victorious in the home tie on the opening weekend, while Der Club started 2025 with Florian Flick’s injury-time winner at Max-Morlock-Stadion.

Miroslav Klose’s side is yet to win a game this season, however. They want to build on the goalless draw against Paderborn as that saw them register their first point of the campaign. Karlsruhe also drew goalless before the international break in Düsseldorf, but they’re one of the two teams yet to lose after four rounds.Team News:

There are no new injury concerns on either side. Finland international Adam Markhiev could make his debut from the start after joining Nürnberg on a deadline day as Caspar Jander’s replacement.

Predicted Lineups:

Karlsruhe: Bernat; Kobald, Franke, Rapp; Jung, Herold; Egloff, Müller, Wanitzek ©; Simic, Schleusener

Nürnberg: Reichert; Koudossou, Gruber ©, Lochoshvili, Yilmaz; Markhiev; Lubach, Becker; Justvan; Grimaldi, Zoma

SV Darmstadt 98 vs. Eintracht Braunschweig

Braunschweig avoided defeat to Darmstadt last season despite only securing survival via a playoff. Heiner Backhaus now tries to help the Lions for a more stable campaign in his debut season at the club.

Both teams collected seven points from the opening three rounds. Just before the season’s first international break, Braunschweig conceded an 89th-minute equalizer at home against newly-promoted Arminia Bielefeld. Similarly, Darmstadt had a poor ending to their game in Kaiserslautern as they conceded three goals after the 84th minute.

Team News:

Isac Lidberg scored his fourth league goal of the season in as many games in the 3-1 defeat to Kaiserslautern, and he will hope to continue on his excellent start. Center-back Lukas Frenkert will miss the game after suffering a muscle injury in Braunschweig’s 1-1 draw with Bielefeld.

Predicted Lineups:

Darmstadt: Schuhen ©; Pfeiffer, Vukotic, Maglica; Klefisch, Akiyama; Marseiler, Richter, Nürnberger; Lidberg, Hornby

Braunschweig: Hoffmann; Ehlers, Köhler ©, Nkoa; Aydin, Flick, Di Michele Sanchez; Heußer, Marie; Yardimci, Conteh