Hamburg kicked off the new Bundesliga 2 season with a win at promotion rivals Cologne. - © DFL/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze

2. Bundesliga

Bundesliga 2, Matchday 1 overview: Hamburg beat Cologne in season opener, Schalke hit five

03.08.2024

The 2024/25 Bundesliga 2 season came roaring back into action this weekend, with Hamburg's win over Cologne and a goal-laden game between Karlsruhe and Miroslav Klose's Nuremberg providing a thrilling start to the league's 50th anniversary celebrations.

Cologne 1-2 Hamburg
Goals: 0-1 Königsdörffer (6'), 0-2 Königsdörffer (35'), 1-2 Maina 78' (assist: Ljubicic)

Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer struck twice in the first half as an impressive Hamburg side beat Cologne 2-1 in the opening match of the 2024/25 Bundesliga 2 season as the division celebrates its 50th anniversary. The Billy Goats were much improved in the second half and pulled a goal back through Linton Maina, but it was ultimately too little, too late for the hosts.

Watch: Highlights of Hamburg's win in Cologne

Karlsruhe 3–2 Nuremberg

Goals: 0-1 Okunuki (20’), 0-2 Pick (31’), 1-2 Zivzivadze (45+2), 2-2 Zivzivadze (73‘), 3-2 Zivzivadze (79‘)

Miroslav Klose‘s side carried on where they left off in pre-season, going into the break leading two goals to one courtesy of Kanji Okunuki and Florian Pick. The home side had maintained a level of control in the first half with the possession sitting at 50-50, but it was the visitors who were more clinical in the first 45. Budu Zivzivadze’s late goal at the end of the first half provided himself and the home side with momentum, however, and two goals from close range in ten minutes toward the end of the second half ultimately sunk Nuremberg and Klose on his competitive managerial debut.

Watch: Highlights of Karlsruhe's win over Nuremberg

Hannover 2–0 Jahn Regensburg

Goals: 1-0 Tresoldi (11‘), 2-0 Dehm (23‘)

Hannover showed their eagerness for the new season to start as they flew into a lead thanks to Nicolò Tresoldi, who caused Regensburg plenty of problems in the first half. The 96ers didn’t stop there, however, and doubled their lead through Jannik Dehm in the 23rd minute, giving the newly promoted side a lot to do in the second half. With little pressure applied to them in the second half, Stefan Leitl’s men were able to maintain their lead without a response from the visitors, meaning they start the season with a home victory and a clean sheet.

Watch: Highlights of Hannover's win against Regensburg

Hertha Berlin 1-2 Paderborn
Goals: 0-1 Götze (42’), 0-2 Bilbija (48‘), 1-2 Maza (73‘)

Hertha looked to make use of their home advantage on the opening day of the season and provide a dominant performance for their fans to get behind. They started well, keeping possession well throughout the half and pressing well without it. However, it was the away side who went into the break with the lead after Felix Götze headed home just before half-time. After having taken a while to grow into the game, the away side were quickly out of the blocks in the second half and doubled their lead in the 48th minute through Filip Bilbija, who tucked home a rebounded shot from close range for Paderborn. Youngster Ibrahim Maza did provide hope of a comeback for Hertha when the 18-year-old substitute scored in the 73rd minute, however it didn’t spark the necessary response and Hertha begin the new season with a home loss.

Watch: Highlights of Paderborn's win over Hertha Berlin

Magdeburg 0–0 Elversberg

Both sides went into the break without having scored, although it certainly wasn’t down to a lack of effort. Livan Burcu was a threat throughout the opening half for the home side but couldn’t quite make the final pass or execute the final shot, leading to a frustrated Magdeburg and a relieved Elversberg who were quiet in the early stages of the game. Unfortunately for supporters of both sides, neither side could find their shooting boots in the second half either, despite the best efforts of Magdeburg’s lively Burcu and Lubambo Musonda in particular.

Watch: Highlights of Magdeburg's draw with Elversberg

Schalke 5-1 Eintracht Braunschweig
Goals: 1-0 Mohr (9'), 2-0 Sylla (25'), 2-1 Ehlers (33'), 3-1 Karaman (73'), 4-1 Sylla (82'), 5-1 Karaman (83')

Schalke sent out an unmissable statement of their intent this season with a thumping home win over Braunschweig. Tobias Mohr got the ball rolling with a lovely lob in the ninth minute, with Moussa Sylla doubling the Royal Blues' lead midway through the half. Although Kevin Ehlers reduced the deficit before the break, and Braunschweig had a couple of chances to equalise early in the second period, Schalke were the better side overall, and made sure of the points in the closing stages with three goals in the space of 10 minutes to seal an eye-catching win.

Watch: Highlights of Schalke's win

Darmstadt 0-2 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 0-1 Vukotić (OG, 55'), 0-2 Rossmann (86')

Having missed out on the Bundesliga by the finest of margins last season - losing on penalties in the relegation/promotion play-off - Fortuna Düsseldorf were keen to make a statement in their curtain-raiser. They had a tough ask with newley-relegated Darmstadt, but quickly took control of the game, with only the opening goal missing. Eventually it came when Aleksandar Vukotić turned Shinta Appelkamp's free-kick into his own net 10 minutes after half-time and then Tim Rossmann sealed a deserved three points late on. Speaking post-match, F95 head coach Daniel Thioune said: "We want to be at the top of the table, that's our goal."

Watch: Highlights of Düsseldorf's win over Darmstadt

Greuther Fürth 3-1 Preußen Münster
Goals: 1-0 Green (pen. 25'), 1-1 Batmaz (41'), 2-1 Srbeny (50'), 3-1 Jung (55')

Given Greuther Fürth's impressive home form last season, Preußen Münster couldn't have had a much harder task than a trip to the Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer in their first Bundesliga 2 game in 33 years. However, the returnees more than held their own against the recent Bundesliga side, and went in at half-time level after Julian Green's early penalty. There was plenty to be positive about at the break, but Fürth then showed their superior talent and finishing with two quick goals at the start of the second period, ending Münster's hopes of any points on the day, but certainly not their dreams of a solid season.

Watch: Highlights of Greuther Fürth's win over Münster

Ulm 1-2 Kaiserslautern
Goals: 1-0 Higl (48'), 1-1 Tomiak (pen. 77'), 1-2 Opoku (83')

After a bizarre season for Kaiserslautern which saw a DFB Cup final but also a relegation battle, it was hard to know which team was going to turn up against newley-promoted Ulm. It looked like it may be the league side when Felix Higl scored Ulm's first Bundesliga 2 goal in 23 years at the start of the second-half, and the hosts continued to defend staunchly. However, FCK stuck to their task under new coach Markus Anfang and were eventually rewarded with a clumsy penalty. Soon after the comeback was complete through Aaron Opoku, but both sides will have left feeling positive.

Watch: Kaiserslautern's comeback win over Ulm