Second home defeat in a row: FCM treads water

After their second home defeat in just seven days, second-division soccer club 1. FC Magdeburg are back in the thick of the fight against relegation. Against Hannover 96 with former coach Christian Titz, the Elbe city team lost 1:2 (0:1). Baris Atik (53') scored for FCM to make it 1-1, while Daisuke Yokota (38') and Enzo Leopold (56') were successful for Hannover. With 20 points, FCM remain in 15th place for the time being.

In front of 25,790 spectators in Magdeburg, it was the first match after the riots in the East derby against Dynamo Dresden (1:2). More than 70 police officers were injured last Saturday.

Magdeburg's message against violence

This time too, the match had to be interrupted for almost nine minutes in the 3rd minute because Hannover fans set off pyrotechnics and fogged the pitch. Otherwise, however, it remained calm before and during the match.

The police said they were on site with a "massive deployment of forces". Magdeburg sponsors cleared several advertising boards so that the club could place an appeal directly on the pitch: "For peaceful soccer. Violence has no place at FCM."

Compared to the home defeat against Dynamo Dresden, coach Petrik Sander introduced two new players to the FCM starting eleven: Darius Stalmach replaced Silas Gnaka, Lubambo Musonda started on the wing for Noah Pesch.

Counter goal while short-handed

The visitors gained the upper hand, but Yokota missed the target (21'). Magdeburg's Mateusz Zukowski only hit the far post (31') - before FCM were badly caught out and Yokota slid in to give the visitors the lead.

Bitter: Because Tobias Müller was receiving treatment, FCM were outnumbered at this point. FCM struggled to initiate attacks and the visitors did better, creating more goalscoring opportunities.

Even after the break, FCM failed to get on the offensive and were lucky that Källman shot just wide (49'). Atik punished a defensive error by the visitors by lifting the ball over goalkeeper Nahuel Noll and into the net (53').

The visitors struck back immediately because Magdeburg were unable to find a foothold in defence and allowed Leopold to score. FCM remained in the game after that, but only had a few clear chances - Marcus Mathisen (76') hit the crossbar - and were unable to equalize.