Both teams showed strong defensive performances, making it difficult for top strikers like Tzimas for FCN and Hornby on the other side. Nuremberg had more chances, particularly in the second half, and thus earned the narrow victory. Ironically, it was Drexler - a defensive player and the only substitute for Nuremberg up to that point - who secured the win.

Darmstadt have about 180 seconds left to find a response.

The lead is not undeserved. The fact that, of all people, the only Nuremberg substitute so far scores - and then it's a defensive player - makes it all the more interesting.

Double substitution for Darmstadt. Marseiler and Lakenmacher are brought on to bolster the attack.

Will there be a breakthrough? Or will it actually remain the first 0-0 draw in a competitive match between these teams? Just under 20 minutes left.

Yilmaz is getting stronger. His solo run down the left flank ends at Lopez. But Nuremberg's counter-pressing is strong - they win the ball back several times, yet there's always a Darmstadt defender's leg in the way. Crazy scene.

Knoche is impressing today in his role as defensive leader. Even the powerful Hornby is struggling against the defensive rock.

Tzimas is struggling today, but the top scorer continues to work diligently. A misunderstanding with his attacking colleagues causes frustration for the Greek.

It's back and forth now. Brilliant ball from Müller into Hornby's path. He cuts inside and fires a powerful shot, but Knoche blocks it strongly.

Now there's excitement in Darmstadt's penalty area twice in quick succession. First Yilmaz goes down, then Justvan. Siebert briefly communicates with the VAR, but play continues.

Nuremberg combine beautifully through the Darmstadt half. Emreli takes a shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Schuhen makes a confident save.

A small encouragement for the second half: Both teams have scored more goals after the break than in the first 45 minutes this season.

The second half is in progress.

It's goalless at the break. Hornby almost put the visitors ahead out of nowhere, while earlier, the impressive Lubach had narrowly failed twice. Not much else has happened so far, though the Lilies have already had to substitute two injured players.

Once again, Killian Corredor is the initiator of the attacking efforts. In the end, Oscar Vilhelmsson squanders possession.

While the flow of the game is hardly established, Nürnberg sneaks back into the match. After a different corner tactic, Yilmaz gets a shot from about 18 yards out. However, the ball slips off his boot and goes well wide to the left.

Another interruption. Darmstadt's left-back Nürnberger seems to have hurt his hip and is receiving further treatment off the pitch.

Emreli and Vukotić collide in a midfield duel. Both stay down briefly, but then get back up. Play resumes with a drop ball.

The two teams have faced each other 42 times in competitive matches, and it has never ended goalless. This gives hope that the pace of the match will pick up soon.

Nuremberg now shift the play more into the visitors' half. Emreli strongly asserts himself on the right side and then delivers a pinpoint cross to the far post. Former Darmstadt player Justvan comes rushing in and heads the ball onto the side netting. Best chance of the match so far!

Kleefisch is taking a lot of knocks in the opening minutes. This time he was caught awkwardly in a midfield challenge. Although he can stand up after a brief pause, it doesn't seem like he can continue. Papela is already warming up.

The disallowed offside goal seems to have woken up the home side. Nuremberg are now pressing a bit more and have earned the first corner of the match. However, it comes to nothing.

Nuremberg have been far too passive so far.

Darmstadt celebrate, but only for a brief moment. Horny puts the ball in the net, but there was an offside in the build-up. It was close, but VAR confirms the decision of the referee team led by Daniel Schiebert.

Nuremberg seem to be willing to let the visitors have the ball for now. Against Paderborn, Darmstadt had some offensive problems when in possession. Has that match provided some insight?

The match is underway. The visitors kick off.

Some interesting facts about the hosts: The already-youngest team in the league has become even younger today with the inclusion of Yilmaz (19 years old) and Lubach (20). The starting eleven has an average age of 24. Also noteworthy: Klose's men could be particularly dangerous from set-pieces today. They are the second most dangerous team from free kicks (45 percent more dangerous than the league average), while Darmstadt is the most vulnerable team when defending in this category.

Manager Kohfeldt makes one alteration. Compared to the somewhat disappointing 1-0 loss against Paderborn, especially going forwards, Vilhelmsson replaces Marseiler in the starting eleven.

Compared to the 3-1 defeat at Schalke, the FCN coach has reshuffled in three positions. He has to do without Castrop, with Lubach coming in instead. Emreli and Yilmaz start in place of Soares and Flick (both on the bench).

Schuhen - Lopez, Riedel, Vukotić, Nürnberger - Klefisch, Müller - Förster, Corredor - Hornby, Vilhelmsson

Reichert - Jeltsch, Knoche, Karafiát - Villadsen, Jander, Mahir Emreli, Yilmaz - Justvan, Lubach - Tzimas

"Darmstadt were very good in the reverse fixture, creating many one-on-one situations. That's exactly what I expect tomorrow as well. We will need to be brave to get our game on the pitch with the right attitude. I have never met Florian Kohfeldt personally, but he was once linked as an expert during my coaching course. I'm looking forward to meeting him."

"Miro Klose is one of the most outstanding players who ever played for Werder. I absolutely loved watching him play football - especially for the national team. He is one of the greatest personalities we have in German football. I'm looking forward to meeting him. I'm looking forward to a duel under floodlights with one of Germany's most traditional clubs. I like the Friday evening matches - and I think the team does too."

SV Darmstadt 98 loans goalkeeper Karol Niemczycki to FC Ashdod in the Israeli Premier League for the second half of the season.

FCN and Sparta Prague have terminated the loan deal for Michal Ševčík. However, the attacking midfielder is not returning to his parent club, but is instead being loaned directly to Sparta's league rivals FK Mlada Boleslav.

Nuremberg have loaned right-back Jannik Hofmann to VfB Stuttgart. The 22-year-old is set to play for their second team in the 3rd division.

Florian Kohfeldt has faced Nuremberg twice before; both matches in charge of Werder Bremen in the 2018/19 Bundesliga season ended in 1-1 draws. While Miroslav Klose played for Werder's first team in the Champions League from 2004 to 2007, Kohfeldt was active in Bremen's third team during the same period and simultaneously began his coaching career in Werder's youth setup in 2006.

Darmstadt have won three of their last four away matches in Nuremberg and lost only one of their last ten away games there too (three wins, six draws). The exception to that was a 3-1 home victory for Nuremberg on 9 April 2022.

None of the 42 competitive matches between these two clubs (including 25 in the Bundesliga 2) have ended goalless.

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 20 fixture between 1. FC Nürnberg and SV Darmstadt 98.