Magdeburg surprise in Berlin

1. FC Magdeburg pulled off a surprise victory at Hertha BSC. With the 2:0 (0:0), the team from the Elbe region achieved their second success in a row in the Bundesliga 2 for the first time this season. The FCM thus reduced the gap to the non-relegation places to one point. Alexander Nollenberger (75th minute) and Rayan Ghrieb (90.+10) scored for FCM in front of 45,653 spectators.

"It was all about breaking down the opposition until they couldn't do it anymore. Then the spaces will open up and we did that very well today," said Baris Atik. "I'm pleased that I was able to contribute to that, but the three points are more important. We're now at the point where we're scoring goals and we have to build on that," explained Dominik Reimann, who secured the win with top reflexes in stoppage time.

Magdeburg's Petrik Sander made one change from the cup tie in Leipzig: Max Geschwill replaced Marcus Mathisen, who was suspended with a yellow card. The game began with a scare: When FCM defended half-heartedly, Fabian Reese put his volley next to the goal (2nd minute). Magdeburg then gained the upper hand, but Noah Pesch (9th, 16th) and Mateusz Zukowski (13th) also failed to put the ball on target.

Only after twenty minutes did the hosts gain more possession as FCM pulled back a little. Magdeburg defended Hertha's attacks attentively, however, and neither side created any more dangerous chances until the break. Hertha came out of the break with momentum, Magdeburg countered - but Zukowski failed to put a cross on target (48').

Another emergency at Magdeburg game

The fan camps temporarily stopped supporting the Hertha block afterwards due to a medical emergency. One fan had to be treated by paramedics in the second half. TV channel Sky then showed how the man was taken out of the stadium by the emergency services. He is said to have been responsive again. There was applause in the stadium. An FCM fan had died in hospital during the week after being resuscitated outside the stadium during the cup match in Leipzig.

Deserved lead through Nollenberger

Magdeburg remained more dangerous, but were unable to overcome Tjark Ernst in the Hertha goal. At the other end, Lubambo Musonda made a great save from Marten Winkler, who had broken through (63'). There was some confusion following a Magdeburg substitution when the wrong player was almost sent off. FCM took advantage of a subsequent corner to take a deserved lead: Ghrieb played a short ball to Baris Atik, whose lob was converted by Nollenberger (75').

Hertha now stepped up the pace: In the nine minutes of stoppage time, goalkeeper Dominik (90.+1, 90.+8) Reimann and the post (90.+1) saved - and then Ghrieb (90.+10) put the lid on it. Afterwards, the Frenchman jumped into the deep stadium ditch on his way to the cheering fans, remained unhurt - but saw his fifth yellow card from referee Konrad Oldhafer.