Nuremberg and Hertha Berlin remain the only teams with maximum points after an action-packed Matchday 2 in Germany’s second tier, which delivered plenty of goals, dramatic comebacks and important wins.
Wolfsburg Edge Hannover Late
Hannover 0-1 Wolfsburg
Goal: Reese 87’ (pen.)
Wolfsburg secured their first victory of the season with a late penalty from Fabian Reese in the local derby against Hannover. After a quiet first half, Wolfsburg improved after the break before Reese converted from the spot after Robert Glatzel was brought down. Hannover suffered their second consecutive defeat.
Grodowski Hat-Trick Fires Bielefeld to Victory
Arminia Bielefeld 3-0 Energie Cottbus
Goals: Grodowski 26’, 37’, 76’ (pen.)
Arminia Bielefeld produced a dominant display against promoted Energie Cottbus, with Joel Grodowski scoring all three goals. After an early effort was ruled out for offside, Grodowski opened the scoring from close range before adding a superb chip. He completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the second half.
Dresden Bounce Back Against Darmstadt
Dynamo Dresden 1-0 Darmstadt
Goal: Sterner 12’
Red card: Klefisch 71’
Dynamo Dresden responded to their opening-day loss with a narrow home victory. Jonas Sterner struck after 12 minutes to give Dresden the lead, while Darmstadt’s task became more difficult when Kai Klefisch was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. Darmstadt remain without a win after two matches.
Nuremberg Win Six-Goal Franconian Derby
Greuther Fürth 2-4 Nuremberg
Goals: Klaus 22’ (pen.), Scobel 26’, Klaus 41’, Justvan 45+3’, Justvan 54’, Scobel 74’
Nuremberg maintained their perfect start with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Greuther Fürth. Felix Klaus twice put Fürth ahead, but Nuremberg repeatedly fought back. Julian Justvan scored twice around half-time before Piet Scobel completed the visitors’ comeback with his second goal of the match.
The result leaves Nuremberg with six points from two games.
Hertha Berlin Stay Perfect
Hertha Berlin 4-1 Heidenheim
Goals: Grönning 2’, Winkler 26’, Zeefuik 35’, Schöppner 49’, Adewumi 90’
Red card: Zeefuik 88’
Hertha Berlin delivered another impressive performance to move to six points. Sebastian Grönning scored inside two minutes before Marten Winkler doubled the lead with a long-range strike. Deyovaisio Zeefuik then made it 3-0.
Heidenheim pulled one back through Jan Schöppner, but Hertha held firm before Oluwaseun Victor Adewumi sealed the win in stoppage time. Zeefuik was sent off late in the game.
Bochum Claim Narrow Win at Braunschweig
Eintracht Braunschweig 0-1 Bochum
Goal: Hofmann 18’
Bochum secured their first three points of the campaign thanks to Philipp Hofmann’s 18th-minute goal. Braunschweig enjoyed plenty of possession and created pressure, particularly after the break, but Bochum defended resolutely to protect their lead.
Kiel Complete Late Comeback Against St. Pauli
Holstein Kiel 2-2 St. Pauli
Goals: Kaars 32’, Hara 45+3’, Harres 56’, Therkelsen 88’
Holstein Kiel fought back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw. Martijn Kaars opened the scoring before Taichi Hara doubled St. Pauli’s advantage just before half-time.
Kiel responded through Phil Harres early in the second half, and Jonas Therkelsen completed the comeback with an 88th-minute equaliser. Both teams remain unbeaten after two draws.
Magdeburg Respond in Style
Osnabrück 0-3 Magdeburg
Goals: Nollenberger 24’, 35’, Iyoha 69’
Magdeburg bounced back strongly from their 6-1 defeat to Braunschweig on Matchday 1. Alexander Nollenberger scored twice in the first half before Emmanuel Iyoha added a third in the second period to secure a convincing away victory.
Kaiserslautern and Karlsruhe Share Points
Kaiserslautern 0-0 Karlsruhe
The south-west German derby ended goalless as Kaiserslautern recorded their second consecutive 0-0 draw. Clear chances were limited, with Ibrahim Kanaté coming closest after the break when his effort was cleared off the line.
Both sides had to settle for a point.
Nuremberg and Hertha Lead the Way
After two matchdays, Nuremberg and Hertha Berlin are the only teams to have won both of their opening games, putting them at the top of the early Bundesliga 2 standings.
The second round also highlighted the attacking nature of the league, with several matches producing three or more goals and the Kiel-St. Pauli and Fürth-Nuremberg fixtures delivering particularly dramatic finishes.