In a thrilling encounter, Magdeburg win 5-2 after being 0-2 down, thus starting the new year successfully. Based on the course of the game, the victory is absolutely deserved, although Elversberg had to play with a man down from the 44th minute due to a red card against Schmahl. All in all, an entertaining afternoon in Saarland.

A few players have suffered with cramps in the past few minutes on this thick playing surface. The changes are unlikely to have much impact on the game itself at this stage.

Elversberg are now sitting deep in their own half, trying to make the spaces tight and prevent any potential shots from the visitors. The away team are continuing to press forward.

We're back underway, and Elversberg have responded to being a man down with a substitution at half-time. Semih Şahin has come on to replace Luka Schnellbacher, who scored the opening goal to make it 1-0.

The Saarlanders end a turbulent first half with a two-goal advantage, but are now a man down. They have proven to be clinical in front of the opposition's goal - in contrast to Magdeburg, who have been equally strong in other areas of the pitch - and could also rely on their in-form keeper Kristof. After the red card against Schmahl, the second half promises to be full of excitement!

There are an additional two minutes seconds added on, the first of which have already begun.

How will the visitors deal with this latest setback? They were actually doing quite well in the match up to this point.

The visitors have maintained control of the match and keep attacking, but Elversberg have stood firm so far, with Kristof in goal, and are waiting for counter-attacking opportunities.

As the stats attest, Kristof is putting in a great performance so far. The Elversberg keeper has impressed with an xSaves value of 1.3.

This has been a noteworthy opening to the 2025 football year in Elversberg. Both teams are immediately going at it with an open approach, and there's also good support coming from the stands - from both sets of fans.

Magdeburg, playing in their black away kit, have kicked off. Elversberg, as they are accustomed to at home, are dressed entirely in white.

The new stand behind the goal is being partially used for the first time at a league match today and is filled with around 400 spectators.

While Elversberg's winter signing Younes Ebnoutalib (who came from fourth-division side Gießen) is on the bench, Magdeburg have to do without their new striker Alexander Ahl-Holmström due to injury. For the home side, Semih Sahin is back in the squad after three months out on the sidelines due to injury, while for Magdeburg, Tarek Chahed was one of the standout performers over the mid-season break and has made it into the matchday squad for the first time in 2024/25.

Christian Titz also makes a pair of changes. He has to do without Silas Gnaka and puts Bryan Teixeira on the bench, while Alexander Nollenberger and Livan Burcu have been given the nod to start. Nollenberger has only been in the starting XI three times this season (matchdays 11-13).

Elversberg's second change compared to the defeat against Schalke at the end of 2024 sees Luca Schnellbacher come into the team for Tom Zimmerschied.

Florian Le Joncour gets another chance to prove himself in place of Lukas Pinckert, who is suspended due to picking up five yellow cards. The Frenchman was a regular starter at the beginning of the season, then was out injured for three months, and has only made one brief appearance since his comeback at the end of November.

Reimann - Hercher, Mathisen, Heber, El Hankouri - Hugonet - Krempicki, Nollenberger - Burcu, Kaars, Atik

Kristof - Baum, Le Joncour, Rohr, Neubauer - Sickinger, Schmahl - Petkov, Schnellbacher, Damar - Asllani

"We are facing a very good team that is strong on the counter. Our entire squad brings a lot of energy, with which we want to shape the match in Elversberg in the best possible way."

"It will probably be the most difficult match to defend against, because Magdeburg has a special and extraordinary way of playing football in this league. They can become dangerous in many ways. We know that we will sometimes have to chase the ball and have less possession than Magdeburg. On the other hand, we also want to launch our attacks and show our quality. On Sunday, a team with a strong home record meets a team with a strong away record, both like to play football and operate less with long balls. I think it will be a 50-50 match and I'm curious to see whose playing style prevails in the end."

Elversberg have only kept clean sheets against Braunschweig and Magdeburg in the Bundesliga 2 this campaign.

Elversberg remain unbeaten against Magdeburg in the Bundesliga 2.

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 18 fixture between Elversberg and Magdeburg.