2. Bundesliga Saturday Preview: Hertha look to maintain momentum, Nürnberg chase first win

The bottom three clubs will be in action on Saturday in 2. Bundesliga as bottom-placed 1. FC Nürnberg host fellow strugglers VfL Bochum.

The capital city club finally registered their first win of the season last week in Hannover. Three second-half goals saw Hertha prevail at the home of the league leaders. Meanwhile, Lucas Copado’s late goal added three points for Paderborn against Bochum.

On Saturday, the two former Bundesliga clubs will go head-to-head once again. The team playing away from home has won the fixture in each of the past three occasions. Paderborn drew in both of their travels this season. Hertha lost 2-0 to Elversberg at the Olympiastadion before the international break.

Ralf Kettemann could repeat last week’s starting lineup, although Copaldo will push for a place after his supersub performance. After starting the season with three center-back formations, Stefan Leitl used 4-2-3-1 for the first time this season in a 3-0 win over Hannover.

Hertha: Ernst; Eitschberger, Leistner, Dardai, Zeefuik; Eichhorn, Jensen; Winkler, Cuisance, Reese ©; Kownacki

Paderborn: Seimen; Hansen, Götze ©, Brackelmann; Curda, Castaneda, Baur, Obermair; Bilbija, Tigges, Bätzner

Schalke suffered their first home defeat of the season when they succumbed to Alexander Bernhardsson’s early strike against Holstein Kiel in front of 62,271 fans. Their next fixture will bring back bad memories from last season. Schalke lost 5-2 to Christian Titz’s Magdeburg at the Veltins-Arena.