Nürnberg extended their winning start to the season with their fourth win in all competitions. Miroslav Klose's side scored three first-half goals on their way to beating Arminia Bielefeld 4-1.
Mohamed Ali Zoma put the hosts in front in the 11th minute with a solo strike. 2. Bundesliga's sought-after attacker easily dribbled past Bielefeld's defense after picking up the ball in Nürnberg's half before beating Jonas Kersken.
Tom Janisch doubled their advantage in the midpoint of the half with a superb finish from Finn Becker's cross. Since Zoma scored all the goals in the opening day against Dynamo Dresden, the 21-year-old became only the second player to score at Max-Morlock-Stadion this season.
Before the half-time break, Adam Markhiev, who was sent off in the last friendly against Real Oviedo, became the third player. The midfielder equalled his last season's tally with his long-range effort deflected by Stefano Russo on its way to the net.
Jan Reichert started the season in top form in Nürnberg's goal, and he made a couple of good saves to keep the visitors at bay. Markhiev scored another goal from outside the box after the restart, with no deflection needed this time for his superb attempt.

#season #zoma #superb

No fewer than five new signings made their competitive debuts for the Black and Yellows in the starting lineup: Jacqueline Meißner and Lara Schmidt bolstered the defense, Ricarda Walkling played in central midfield, while Ramona Maier and captain Alexandra Popp featured on the attack. Head coach Markus Högner went all out on offense with the forward quartet of Maier, Popp, Schumacher, and Enderle – together, they had scored 20 goals in the six preseason matches.
Amid the exuberant atmosphere at Rote Erde Stadium, the Borussia women dominated the match from the start. The team created its first dangerous scoring chance in the fifth minute after a cross to Jacqueline Meißner. The low cross found Ramona Maier, whose low shot was cleared for a corner by the Bielefeld goalkeeper. In the minutes that followed, the BVB Women repeatedly combined down the right flank to penetrate the Bielefeld penalty area – Arminia goalkeeper Johanna Wende was also able to parry two more shots by Maier (10th, 20th).
The match turned into a test of patience for the BVB Women; the visitors from Bielefeld retreated deeper and deeper in front of their own goal as the half progressed. Alex Popp covered the entire width of the field, often dropping deeper during build-up play to distribute the ball in the center. The captain was rewarded for her efforts in the 38th minute when she powered a cross from Enderle into the Bielefeld goal with a header to give her team a 1–0 halftime lead.
The Borussia women continued to focus on counter-pressing in the second half, immediately regaining possession and launching a focused build-up. The BVB Women created their first offensive opportunities of the second half through a low free kick by Schumacher (51st') and a shot by Sara Ito following a corner (52nd). In the 60th minute, the Borussia women had their next shot on goal when Alex Popp broke through, but the visitors' in-form goalkeeper deflected the ball around the post. At the other end, the alert Jacqueline Meißner successfully tackled one of Bielefeld's few forays forward (71st minute).
The closing stages briefly brought some frantic action to a match in which the BVB Women, despite their narrow lead, kept pushing forward relentlessly. Relief came in the 82nd minute: BVB's captain once again converted a sharply taken corner kick by Schumacher. Alex Popp rose highest at the near post and headed the ball into the near corner to make it 2–0. The much-celebrated finishing touch came from the two substitutes, Steenwijk and Leubner, who had only just come on: Ronja Leubner confidently finished off a through ball played with the outside of the foot by Jenske Steenwijk to seal the 3–0 final score.

#popp #borussia #alex

Arminia Bielefeld host newly-promoted Energie Cottbus on Sunday as Oliver Kirch makes his home debut. The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder lost to Karlsruhe in his managerial debut last week.
Meanwhile, Cottbus pulled off the surprising result of the opening matchday with a 3-1 win over promotion candidates Hannover. Die Lausitzer will now hope to maintain their perfect record with their first away 2. Bundesliga game in over a decade.
Bielefeld: Kersken; Koudossou, Bauer ©, Großer, Handwerker; Russo; Mehlem, Wörl; Momuluh, Grodowski, Rochelt
Cottbus: Lotka; Rorig, Manu, Erlein, Zaydan; Bittencourt, Michelbrink; Ciğerci ©, Boziaris, Butler; Copado

#bielefeld #debut #arminia

Arminia Bielefeld will hope to repeat last season's sensational start to their 2. Bundesliga campaign as they face Karlsruhe away from home. Both teams picked up three points to start last season with wins over the now 3. Liga clubs Fortuna Düsseldorf and Preußen Münster, respectively.
Karlsruhe won last season's home game against Bielefeld 4-1 despite conceding first inside the first 15 minutes. The two teams will now start their new eras under their respective new coaches Maximilian Senft and Oliver Kirch.
Karlsruhe: Bernat; Jung, Kobald, Franke, Ofli; Pinto Pedrosa, Egloff, Zor, Wanitzek ©; Eichinger, Broschinski
Bielefeld: Kersken; Koudossou, Bauer ©, Großer, Handwerker; Russo, Schreck, Wörl; Momuluh, Grodowski, Rochelt

#bielefeld #last #liga

New Hamburg attacking addition Patson Daka bid the Bundesliga a spirited ****** o on Friday. Following his arrival at HSV's Austrian training camp, new striker Patson Daka has spoken about his decision to join the Bundesliga club and his determination to escape the difficult period that stalled his career at Leicester City.
The 27-year-old joined HSV on a free transfer after Leicester's relegation to the English third tier. Daka, for whom the former Premier League club paid approximately €30m five years ago, initially signed a one-year contract containing an extension option. The Zambian international is expected to make his unofficial debut in Saturday's friendly against 1. FC Heidenheim.
Daka's fellow new Hamburg signing – Moroccan U23 international Bilal Nadir – also saw his arrival on a free transfer confirmed Friday. Like Daka, Nadir is also hoping to put a recent rough patch behind him. Last October, whilst playing for Olympique Marseille, Nadir made unpleasant headlines when he collapsed on the field during a Ligue 1 match against Angers.
In their second season back in the Bundesliga, Hamburg are rapidly becoming the club of "second chances"; an apt categorization in the year that Mario Vuskovic is once again eligible to play following his long suspension. Daka optimistically led the group of new arrivals at his introductory press event.
The striker began researching HSV shortly after the club established contact. Daka also consulted former Salzburg teammates Hee-Chan Hwang (whom many will recall from his RB Leipzig days) and Masaya Okugawa (who mostly featured for Arminia Bielefeld), both of whom previously played in Hamburg.

#daka #year #patson

It's strange knowing what we know now, but on this day in 1999, German international Thomas Helmer completed his move to Sunderland. The 34-year-old central defender had only weeks prior been in the Bayern Munich squad that were beaten by Manchester United in the Champions League final.
He'd also played in two World Cups for his country, and Peter Reid stated he'd bring "invaluable experience" to his squad.
Helmer moved from Bayern Munich on a Bosman free transfer and immediately joined his new teammates for the tour in Denmark. Before Bayern, Helmer had spells with Arminia Bielefeld and Borussia Dortmund, so the move to Wearside was his first outside of Germany as he talked about his move:
I am looking forward to joining my team-mates in Denmark and helping Sunderland do well in the Premiership next season. I could have joined Liverpool six months ago but felt that the time was not right for me or my family.
As soon as I heard of Sunderland's interest I came straight over and was very impressed with the Stadium of Light and what the manager had to say

After it was clear FC St. Pauli and Alexander Blessin would part ways, the Hanseatic club are looking for an instant successor as coach.
Now, according to Sky Germany's sources, the recently relegated Bundesliga side are said to be interested in Marcel Rapp.
The 47-year-old led Holstein Kiel to the Bundesliga in 2024 and was initially allowed to stay even after their immediate relegation.
However, when demotion back to the 3. Liga loomed in the 2025-26 campaign, Kiel wasted no time in giving Rapp the chop.
According to Sky, an agreement between Rapp – who was recently linked with Arminia Bielefeld – and FC St. Pauli is still pending.