The big news from the world of 2. Bundesliga. Click here for latest.
Tesche extends to 2021
VfL Bochum announced on Tuesday morning that they have activated an extension clause on the contract of Robert Tesche, with the midfielder staying on until the end of next season.
Tesche’s Bochum career had looked over under old coach Robin Dutt but he has become an important part of Thomas Reis’s midfield in recent months. The 32-year-old has made 17 appearances in the 2. Bundesliga this season.
19th May 2020
Diamantakos bound for Croatia?
As relayed by the Hamburger Morgenpost, Croatian media reports suggest that FC St. Pauli striker Dimitrios Diamantakos is set for a move to Hajduk Split in the summer.
The Greek striker has been with St. Pauli since 2018 and has scored 8 times in 15 games this season, but is not a favourite of coach Jos Luhukay. He was substituted before half-time in Sunday’s win over 1. FC Nürnberg, which Luhukay confirmed was a tactical decision.
19th May 2020
Stuttgart appeal penalty decision
VfB Stuttgart have formally appealed against the penalty awarded against them for handball in stoppage time of their game against Wehen Wiesbaden on Sunday.
Sporting director Sven Mislintat said the reason for the appeal was their belief the the “behaviour” of referee Sascha Stegemann in awarded the penalty against Hamadi Al Ghaddioui after the VAR review “was a violation of the rules that had a direct impact on the end result of the game.”
The DFB has publicly stated that the intervention from the video assistant referree was “not appropriate” in this case due to the lack of a clear and obvious error. Phillip Tietz converted the stoppage time spot kick to earn Wehen a 2-1 win.
20th May 2020
Final matchdays set by DFL
The DFL have confirmed the schedule for the final five matchdays of the 2. Bundesliga season. The final two round of games, as always, will take place simultaneously. Highlights before then including a Monday night game between Hamburger SV and Holstein Kiel on 8th June, plus the Franconian derby on the 13th June.
Dynamo Dresden‘s rearranged fixtures have been confirmed as well, with the coronavirus-hit team facing eight games in 21 days. Their match against Arminia Bielefeld, now postponed to Monday 15th June, will come after both teams have already played on the Friday, and precedes the final round of midweek matches. Madness.
20th May 2020
Dresden announce further Corona cases
Dynamo Dresden announced on Thursday afternoon that another member of their squad has tested positive for COVID-19. The squad had already been in isolation following three earlier cases, however along with all remaining players the trio, including striker Simon Makienok, have now tested negative for the virus.
A ‘close contact’ of a member of club staff has also tested positive, with affected parties in quarantine for a further two weeks. All other players are expected back in training this weekend.
They will return against VfB Stuttgart on the 31st May and will then play eight games in three weeks as they catch up on their postponed matches.
21st May 2020
Trapp commits long term to Osnabrück
VfL Osnabrück have confirmed that defender Maurice Trapp has signed a new contact, meaning he will remain at the Bremer Brücke until 2024.
A key part of their promotion side last season, Trapp missed the first half of the season with a persistent back problem but has made six appearances since the start of the year.
21st May 2020
Aue players involved in crash
As reported by Bild and others, the Erzgebirge Aue team coach has been involved in a crash on the Autobahn on its way to Nurmeburg on Thursday evening. Debris from BMW that crashed hit the coach, causing damage to its exterior. The driver of the car is reported to be ‘seriously injured’.
15 players plus several members of the coaching staff, including Dirk Schuster, were on board the coach. Club president Helge Leonhardt, not on board, confirmed to the paper that there were no injuries amongst the party, with minibuses to be arranged to take them the rest of the way for tomorrow night’s game against 1. FC Nürnberg.
21th May 2020
Bochum keen to keep Osei-Tutu
VfL Bochum are hoping to keep hold of Jordi Osei-Tutu next season. The Englishman is on loan from Arsenal and Thomas Reis would like to keep him at the Ruhrstadion after his recent breakthrough as a winger. He scored his third goal of the season against 1. FC Heidenheim last weekend.
Sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz is quoted in B*ld as saying that they are “in constant contact with Arsenal” over the 21-year-old future but there hadn’t been “any concrete discussions” due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Any move would probably be an extension to his loan with Bochum unlikely to have the means to sign him permanently.
22nd May 2020
Friday’s Results
1. FC Heidenheim 1-0 Wehen Wiesbaden (report)
1. FC Nurnberg 1-1 Erzgebirge Aue
22nd May 2020
Saturday’s Results
SV Darmstadt 98 4-0 FC St. Pauli
VfL Osnabrück 2-4 Hannover 96 (report)
SV Sandhausen 0-0 Jahn Regensburg
23rd May 2020
Promotion clash on TV
Viewers in the UK and Republic of Ireland will be able to watch the big clash between Hamburger SV and Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday on TV. BT Sport 2 will be showing the game live, with kick-off at 12:30 (BST).
See above for where else in the world the game is being televised. Match report and analysis will be posted on this site following the game. The hashtag will be #HSVDSC.
23rd May 2020
Sunday’s Results
Hamburger SV 0-0 Arminia Bielefeld (report)
Karlsruher SC 0-0 VfL Bochum
Holstein Kiel 3-2 VfB Stuttgart
24th May 2020
Mislintat backs Matarazzo
VfB Stuttgart sporting director Sven Mislintat has given his full backing to coach Pellegrino Matarazzo despite back-to-back defeats, insisting the 42-year-old will still be Stuttgart next year.
Asked about whether Matarazzo will remain in charge, Mislintat was adamant. “A hundred percent yes,” he insisted. “It is very clear internally that Rino (Matarazzo) will definitely be our coach next year. He is doing an outstanding job, the team knows that and appreciates him accordingly.”
Stuttgart lost to Holstein Kiel on Sunday, following their defeat to Wehen Wiesbaden the week before. They face Hamburger SV on Thursday, which will be the first home game since the season’s resumption.
25th May 2020
Zoller out for season
Relegation-threatened VfL Bochum have received a massive blow with media reports saying that forward Simon Zoller will be out for the rest of the season after suffering an inner ligament tear in his right knee against Karlsruher SC on Sunday.
The 28-year-old, who joined from 1. FC Köln in January 2019, has scored six goals and has three assists this season. It is a further injury blow for Bochum with defender Saulo Decarli also ruled out of the campaign following surgery on a foot injury last week.
25th May 2020
Tuesday’s Results
FC Erzgebirge Aue 1-3 SV Darmstadt 98
SpVgg Greuther Fürth 0-2 VfL Osnabrück
SSV Jahn Regensburg 2-2 1. FC Nürnberg
SV Wehen Wiesbaden 0-1 SV Sandhausen
26th May 2020
Minge set for Dresden exit?
Reports have emerged on Tuesday evening that Ralf Minge, sporting director of Dynamo Dresden, is set to leave the club, with his contract expiring at the end of June.
Talks over the 59-year-old’s contract had been put on hold due to the coronavirus crisis, and it now appears he could leave, either at the end of June or following a short transitional period.
26th May 2020
Matarazzo extends to 2022
In a surprise move, VfB Stuttgart have extended the contract of Pellegrino Matarazzo by a year to 2022, despite pressure increasing on the 42-year-old after two defeats on the spin.
The former TSG 1899 Hoffenheim assistant coach replacing Tim Walter over the winter break. The club are currently third and could drop out of the promotion places if 1. FC Heidenheim win their game this evening. Die Roten face a massive game against Hamburger SV tomorrow.
27th May 2020
Wednesday’s Results
VfL Bochum 2-1 Holstein Kiel
Hannover 96 1-1 Karlsruher SC
FC St. Pauli 0-0 1. FC Heidenheim
27th May 2020
Ziereis to undergo surgery
After Wednesday’s goalless draw with 1. FC Heidenheim, FC St. Pauli confirmed bad news regarding Philipp Ziereis. They confirmed that the defender, who had been struggling with his knee, has damaged the meniscus in his right knee and will undergo surgery on Thursday.
The 27-year-old, who has made just six appearances this season, is expected to miss the rest of the season.
27th May 2020
Friday’s Results
SV Darmstadt 98 1-1 SpVgg Greuther Fürth
VfL Osnabrück 2-2 SSV Jahn Regensburg
29th May 2020
Saturday’s Results
Karlsruher SC 1-1 FC St. Pauli
Holstein Kiel 1-2 Arminia Bielefeld
1. FC Nürnberg 0-0 VfL Bochum
SV Sandhausen 3-1 Hannover 96
30th May 2020