Three early fixtures kick off Saturday’s 2. Bundesliga action as Karlsruher SC welcome Hertha BSC, Hannover 96 host Fortuna Düsseldorf, and Greuther Fürth face Eintracht Braunschweig.
Karlsruher SC vs. Hertha BSC: Karlsruhe enter the match after ending a six-game winless run with a 2-0 victory at Münster last weekend, a result powered by Marvin Wanitzek’s brace and lifting the team to ninth in the table. Despite the win, an ongoing centre-back injury crisis persists, keeping key options sidelined and opening opportunities for younger players such as 19-year-old Paul Scholl, who has started the last two matches alongside Marcel Franke.
Karlsruhe head coach Christian Eichner stressed the importance of maintaining sharpness and hunger for the full 90 minutes in what remains a second-division encounter, saying the team must stay focused even amid renewed confidence.
Hertha BSC’s form has been frustrating, with a goalless draw against league leaders Schalke extending a winless run to four matches and leaving them seventh, five points off automatic promotion. The setback was compounded by injuries to players including 16-year-old Kennet Eichhorn and other squad members, prompting talk of potential midfield reinforcement.
Hertha’s head coach Stefan Leitl said he expects a determined performance in Karlsruhe, insisting there will be no sentiment in the approach and that the team will go there to win. Historically, the reverse fixture finished 0-0 at the Olympiastadion, and Hertha’s last victory in Karlsruhe dates back to October 2024.
Team news: Karlsruher SC – Nicolai Rapp, Marcel Beifus and Christoph Kobald are unavailable. Hertha BSC – Kennet Eichhorn, Maurice Krattenmacher, Leon Jensen, Niklas Kolbe, Diego Demme and John Brooks sidelined; Fabian Reese and Tjark Ernst expected to return to the starting XI after recovering from infection.
Predicted lineups: Karlsruher SC (4-2-2-2): Bernat; Jung, Scholl, Franke, Herold; Burnic, Müller; Förster, Wanitzek; Ben Farhat, Schleusener. Hertha BSC (4-2-3-1): Ernst; Gechter, Leistner, Dardai, Zeefuik; Seguin, Sessa; Winkler, Cuisance, Reese; Schuler.
Hannover 96 vs. Fortuna Düsseldorf: Hannover 96 are in a four-match winless spell under Christian Titz, including a 3-1 defeat at Kaiserslautern last time out, which has slowed their push in the promotion race and left them sixth. Coach Titz has urged his players to respond quickly and maintain focus so defeats do not linger.
Fortuna Düsseldorf claimed back-to-back league wins for the first time this season by beating Arminia Bielefeld 1-0 at home last weekend, but they remain 14th, just one point above the relegation play-off spot, indicating continued work ahead. Manager Markus Anfang highlighted the need for more clinical finishing, noting that the team creates chances but must convert them more consistently.
Hannover claimed a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture, while Düsseldorf has not won at the Merkur Spiel-Arena since 2018. Anfang has yet to beat Titz in their two previous meetings.
Team news: Hannover 96 – Husseyn Chakroun, Hayate Matsuda and Mustapha Bundu are unavailable; Waniss Taïbi is suspended. Fortuna Düsseldorf – Julian Hettwer, Tim Rossmann and Florian Schock are out; Valgeir Lunddal is a doubt, but Jesper Daland returns from suspension.
Predicted lineups: Hannover 96 (3-4-3): Noll; Ghiță, Tomiak, Allgeier; Leopold, Neubauer, Aséko Nkili, Oudenne; Yokota, Pichler, Weißhaupt. Fortuna Düsseldorf (3-4-2-1): Kastenmeier; Oberdorf, Egouli, Daland; Iyoha, Tanaka, El Azzouzi, Muslija; Rasmussen, Suso; Itten.
Greuther Fürth vs. Eintracht Braunschweig: Greuther Fürth sit at the bottom of the table, having collected just two points from Heiko Vogel’s first four matches in charge. A 2-0 defeat at relegation rivals Dresden last time out underscored defensive frailty and a lack of attacking threat. Braunschweig, positioned 15th, visit hoping to extend their recent encouragement after a run of five matches with only one defeat, though they were convincingly beaten 3-0 last weekend.
Braunschweig coach Heiner Backhaus has promised a response, saying the previous display did not meet second-division standards and that energy and sharpness will be addressed ahead of the trip to Fürth.
The reverse fixture earlier this season finished 3-2 to Braunschweig at their home stadium, and Braunschweig have not won in Fürth since 2015.
Team news: Greuther Fürth – Julian Green, Felix Klaus and Jomaine Consbruch are unavailable, along with long-term absentees Sacha Bansé, Marco John, Noah König and David Abrangao. New signing Paul Will is expected to feature. Eintracht Braunschweig – Lino Tempelmann and Fredrik Jäkel unavailable.
Predicted lineups: Greuther Fürth (4-4-2): Schlieck; Reich, Bjarnason, Münz, Itter; Keller, Arifi, Will, Dardari; Hrgota, Futkeu. Eintracht Braunschweig (3-4-2-1): Hoffmann; Frenkert, Nkoa, Köhler; Aydin, Flick, Marie, Di Michele Sanchez; Alidou, Heußer; Yardımcı.
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