Bundesliga 2, Matchday 2: Wolfsburg leave it late against Hannover, Nuremberg seal derby victory
Fabian Reese's late spot-kick secured three points and bragging rights for Wolfsburg over rivals Hannover in the Lower Saxony derby on Matchday 2, as Arminia Bielefeld win big against newly promoted Energie Cottbus thanks to a Joel Grodowski hat-trick, and Dynamo Dresden overcome Darmstadt.
Matchday 2 results
Hannover 0-1 WolfsburgGoals: 0-1 Reese 87’ (pen)
Wolfsburg left it late to secure bragging rights over local rivals Hannover. With chances sparse in the first period, the 96ers’ Maurice Neubauer spurned the best opportunity but the Wolves came out for the second half re-energised. Fabian Reese came close shortly after the break, and Wolfsburg’s new arrival later proved the match-winner - converting his spot-kick after Robert Glatzel was brought down - to inflict successive defeats on Hannover as Tobias Strobl’s side record their first win.
Arminia Bielefeld 3-0 Energie CottbusGoals: 1-0 Grodowski 26’, 2-0 Grodowski 37’, 3-0 Grodowski 76’ (pen.)
Oliver Kirch’s Bielefeld side picked up their first points of the new campaign in a thoroughly dominant performance against Bundesliga 2 newcomers Cottbus. Joel Grodowski, who stole the show throughout, thought he’d opened the scoring inside 20 minutes, but it was correctly ruled out for offside. The forward had his first of the afternoon minutes later, though, slotting home from close range on the end of an Henri Koudossou cross. Grodowski made it two shortly after with a sumptuous chip, before completing his hat-trick in the second half from the spot to seal the victory.
Dynamo Dresden 1-0 DarmstadtGoals: 1-0 Sterner 12’Red card: Klefisch 71’
Thomas Stamm’s Dresden side bounced back from their opening-day defeat to Nuremberg by securing a narrow 1-0 victory over Darmstadt in their first home game of the season. Jonas Sterner gave Dresden an early lead after 12 minutes, whose task was made much easier in the second half when Kai Klefisch picked up a second yellow card for the visitors. Darmstadt are now without a win from their opening two league matches.
Greuther Fürth 2-4 Nuremberg
Goals: 1-0 Klaus 22‘ (pen.), 1-1 Scobel 26‘, 2-1 Klaus 41‘, 2-2 Justvan 45+3‘, 2-3 Justvan 54‘, 2-4 Scobel 74‘
The game burst into life when Fürth were awarded a penalty after Tim Janisch handled a cross. Felix Klaus coolly slotted home from the spot, only for Piet Scobel to equalise shortly after with a diving header. The hosts then re-took the lead through Klaus, just moments after he saw a headed goal disallowed for offside. Julian Justvan curled home an equaliser from close range on the cusp of half-time, before striking again shortly after the break with a superb solo effort. Klaus then missed a chance to level for the hosts from the spot, before Scobel netted Nuremberg's fourth and final goal.
Hertha Berlin 4-1 Heidenheim
Goals: 1-0 Grönning 2’, 2-0 Winkler 26’, 3-0 Zeefuik 35’, 3-1 Schöppner 49’, 4-1 Adewumi 90’Red card: Zeefuik 88’
Hertha Berlin maintained their perfect start to 2026/27, inflicting a first defeat of the season on Heidenheim. Sebastian Grönning fired the Berliners into an early lead before Marten Winkler doubled his team’s tally with a superb strike from distance. He then turned provider for Deyovaisio Zeefuik, who gave Stefan Leitl’s men a comfortable lead. Schöppner’s strike and Zeefuik’s red card in the second period was unable to initiate a Heidenheim fightback as Oluwaseun Victor Adewumi secured successive wins for Hertha.
Eintracht Braunschweig 0-1 Bochum
Goals: 0-1 Hofmann 18‘
A bright start by the hosts saw them cause Bochum real problems in the opening stages, but their failure to convert their pressure into a goal allowed Philipp Hofmann the opportunity to fire his side into the lead after a classy assist from Koji Miyoshi. Braunschweig upped the ante in the second 45 in their search for a leveller, but struggled to really threaten the Bochum goal despite dominating possession. The visitors defended resolutely, holding on for their first three points of 2026/27.
Holstein Kiel 2-2 St. Pauli
Goals: 0-1 Kaars 32', 0-2 Hara 45'+3, 1-2 Harres 56', 2-2 Therkelsen 88'
Holstein Kiel fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with St. Pauli on home soil. Martijn Kaars opened the scoring for the visitors after 32 minutes before Taichi Hara doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time. Kiel responded through Phil Harres shortly after the restart, and Jonas Therkelsen completed the comeback with a late 88th-minute equaliser. The result means both sides remain unbeaten after two matches, having also drawn their opening fixtures of the season.
Osnabrück 0-3 Magdeburg
Goals: 0-1 Nollenberger 24', 0-2 Nollenberger 35', 0-3 Iyoha 69'
Osnabrück were well beaten on their first home match following their promotion to Bundesliga 2 as Magdeburg bounced back from last week's 6-1 home humbling from Braunschweig in style. A superb first-half brace from Alexander Nollenberger sent the visitors well on course for the points, and despite the hosts having several good chances in the second period, Emmanuel Iyoha showed just how challenging the second tier can be to seal the away win.
Kaiserslautern were held to a goalless draw for the second week running after a battling encounter at home to Karlsruhe. It was a typically fiery derby affair between the two clubs from south-west Germany, with clear-cut chances few and far between in the first half. Ibrahim Kanaté had the best opening of the game early in the second period when he took the ball around the Karlsruhe goalkeeper, but his shot from a tight angle was cleared off the line. There was little to choose between the teams for the remainder, as each deservedly took a point.
