Cellar duel: Hertha BSC and Nuremberg are fighting for important points!

Cellar duel: Hertha BSC and Nuremberg are fighting for important points!

On Sunday, September 26, 2025, Hertha BSC and 1. FC Nürnberg met in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Both teams had a weak start to the season and found themselves in the bottom of the table in the 2nd Bundesliga. Hertha BSC took 15th place with 5 points, while Nuremberg was in 16th place with 4 points. The encounter turned out to be crucial in the relegation battle, especially for Nuremberg, who only managed to collect their first point this season on matchday four.

In the last six duels against Nuremberg, Hertha BSC had only suffered one defeat, with three wins and two draws, according to [rbb24]. The last meeting ended 0-0 on February 21, 2025, which marked the debut of Hertha coach Stefan Leitl. After a disappointing season, Nuremberg started the game optimistically after winning the previous match against VfL Bochum 2-1.

The expectations of the game

Both coaches, Stefan Leitl from Hertha and Miroslav Klose from Nuremberg, knew the importance of this game. While Klose emphasized progress in training and the will to implement this on the pitch, Leitl emphasized the importance of being active as a team. Key players such as Adam Markhiev and Julian Justvan were highlighted as crucial to the outcome of the game. Hertha coach Leitl made it clear that Dawid Kownacki would also potentially return to action after an injury, with Sebastian Grönning also a candidate for the starting eleven.

The predicted game progression indicated a close duel. Fans of both teams were concerned about the unsatisfactory transfer policy and the meager points tally. Joti Chatzialexiou, the person responsible for the transfers at Nuremberg, was particularly criticized.

Game history and results

The game started at 6:30 p.m. and was watched by around 40,000 spectators in the Olympic Stadium. Referee Harm Osmers led the game, supported by video assistant Johann Pfeifer. Although Hertha BSC dominated possession of the ball, they were unable to create any significant chances in the first half. Reese had the best opportunity for the Berliners, whose shot landed on the post. Meanwhile, Nuremberg struggled in the first half and hardly had any shots on goal.

In the second half, Nuremberg acted more offensively and pushed for the opening goal. The game ultimately ended with no goals and both teams failed to score any decisive goals. This result leaves Hertha BSC in 16th place, just five points above the relegation zone, while Nuremberg have recorded just one win and a further four draws in their last five games.

The challenges that both teams face can be clearly seen in the 2nd Bundesliga table. At the moment, the relegation battle is characterized by uncertainty and, above all, the need to collect more points in order to leave the relegation zone.