2. Bundesliga Preview: Energie Cottbus vs. 1. FC Nürnberg
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Energie Cottbus and Nürnberg will hope to return to winning ways when they lock horns on Friday in 2. Bundesliga. The visitors had a roller-coaster return to action after the extended international break as they drew 4-4 with fellow promotion hopefuls VfL Wolfsburg.
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Miroslav Klose's side thought Giannis Masouras’ first goal for the club in the 96th minute would be enough for a dramatic win, but Alessio Besio scored his second injury-time goal to seal a point for Wolfsburg in thrilling finish to an exhilarating game at Max-Morlock-Stadion.
However, there were still lots of positives to take for the side who only failed to win two of their first seven games of the campaign. The new Italian international Mohamed Ali Zoma maintained his record of a goal-per-game ratio, while Piet Scobel, who only had two goals last season, scored his second brace of the new campaign.
It was also a comeback of some sort for the unbeaten Nürnberg themselves as Wolfsburg had a 2-0 lead at the half-time break. Nonetheless, Hertha BSC are now four points ahead of Der Club after they extended their perfect streak with a 2-1 victory over Greuther Fürth the following day.
Meanwhile, Energie Cottbus squandered their early lead away at Magdeburg as they suffered their first defeat on the road since matchday 2. German-American forward Justin Butler scored for the third game running before the hosts turned the encounter to their favor.
The last time the two teams met was in the relegation/promotion playoff at the end of the 2008/09 season. Nürnberg got promoted to Bundesliga back then with a 5-0 aggregate win as Cottbus have never played top-flight football after that.
Team News
Axel Borgmann joined long-time absentees Erik Engelhardt and Julian Guttau on the sidelines as the Cottbus midfielder suffered muscular issues during the game in Magdeburg.
The visitors have to wait a bit longer for the debut of Mikayil Faye, while Finn Becker and Kristian Mandic stay in the treatment room.
Predicted Lineups
Cottbus: Lotka; Rorig, Erlein, Manu, Guwara; Michelbrink, Bittencourt; Hannemann, Cigerci ©, Kinsombi; Butler
Nürnberg: Reichert ©; Janisch, Kalogeropoulos, Otto, Porstner; Markhiev, Fernandez; Justvan; Ghrieb, Scobel, Zoma