Without penetration: Magdeburg loses in Nuremberg

1. FC Magdeburg missed a big step out of the basement of the table. The club lost 1:1 (0:1) at 1. FC Nürnberg in front of 37,712 spectators and are still in acute danger of relegation. Rafael Lubach (45.+2) scored for the hosts. With 33 points, FCM are now 16th in the relegation zone, level on points with Fürth in 17th place.

"We were inattentive on the wing once, made the wrong assignment and were 1-0 down. Our task now is Hertha at home - we'll have Mateusz back there," said coach Petrik Sander, referring to his missing goalscorer Mateusz Zukowski and the missed opportunities.

Nuremberg score shortly before the break

The FCM had to face Nuremberg without the yellow card suspended striker, with Alexander Ahl Holmström coming in for the Pole. In addition, Max Geschwill came in for Tobias Müller (foot contusion) in central defense. On the pitch, Magdeburg immediately tried to control the game and put the hosts under pressure early on with high pressing. But the club held firm.

Nuremberg then had more of the play and also won the majority of the duels. Magdeburg found little space in attack because Nuremberg defended with eight players on one line at times. As a result, the action took place between the penalty areas. When the teams were almost at half-time, the hosts took the lead. Henri Koudoussou left Lubambo Musonda standing and his low cross was converted by Lubach.

Magdeburg fail to find the gap

After the break, Nuremberg continued to disrupt Magdeburg's build-up play early on and did not pull back. As a result, FCM hardly got into any attacking situations - and even when the Elbe club were able to get a foothold in Nuremberg's half, they were unable to produce a dangerous finish. FCM also had to watch out for club counter-attacks.

Magdeburg's attacking players also lacked the precision needed to seriously threaten the hosts' goal. The final pass was too often missed and striker Ahl Holmström was almost completely up in the air. Even when Magdeburg managed to break through, their shots went wide of the goal or were blocked. The Franconians barely managed to relieve the pressure in the final minutes - but FCM were unable to equalize despite their best efforts. "We just couldn't get the ball over the line," said Sander.