Hertha BSC suffered its first defeat in the 2nd Bundesliga since mid-October. The proud winning streak was broken against the bottom of the table, 1. FC Magdeburg.
Alexander Nollenberger scored the opening goal in the 74th minute on Sunday (December 7th, 2025), and Rayan Ghrieb made it 2-0 in the last minute of added time.
The Berliners had suffered their last defeat 2-3 at VfL Bochum and also conceded goals recently.
This put a damper on the promotion hopes of coach Stefan Leitl’s team. Magdeburg, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief after their fourth win of the season, even if the team remains in last place in the table due to a worse goal difference compared to Dynamo Dresden. After the well-deserved 2-0 win, the gap to 15th place is now just one point.
Reese with the early big chance
Less than two minutes had been played when Herthan had their first good chance. Mickaël Cuisance broke through in the penalty area and passed back from the baseline. Fabian Reese got hold of the deflected ball and put it next to the goal from almost five meters.
However, the bottom of the table initially played the game superiorly and quickly had the opportunity to take the lead. Deyovaisio Zeefuik carelessly lost the ball in the penalty area, but Noah Pesch headed Lubambo Musonda’s perfect cross well wide of the goal (9th).
Magdeburg was superior in the initial phase
Magdeburg had around 70 percent ball possession in the first 20 minutes and were significantly more dangerous than the Berliners, who, after five consecutive wins in the 2nd league without conceding a goal, conceded another goal in the DFB Cup. But that was easy to cope with, as they scored six of their own against 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the round of 16. Kennet Eichhorn shot one of them. The 16-year-old talent was missing against the FCM due to muscular problems.
After almost half an hour, Hertha became more active, but until the break there was no further chance in a game at a mediocre level.
Quiet stadium due to medical emergency
Unlike in the first half, the visitors had their first good opportunity after the break. Mateusz Zukowski slid in to a cross from Falko Michel, but was a split second too late, making the ball difficult to control.
Both fan curves – there were 7,500 from Magdeburg among the approximately 50,000 spectators – subsequently stopped supporting because there was a medical emergency in the east curve of the Olympic Stadium.
Slipped away: Hertha’s Michal Karbownik against Laurin Ulrich
The only thing that got loud was the chances. The Hertha team groaned when a shot from Cuisance flew just past the Magdeburg goal.
On the other hand, goalkeeper Tjark Ernst prevented Zukowski from going behind with a header.
After about an hour, a fan was taken away to applause from the fans. He is said to have been responsive again. Accordingly, the curves resumed support.
Hertha sleeps at Nollenberger’s goal
The Magdeburgers were able to celebrate after Hertha lost concentration on a corner kick. After the quickly executed standard situation, the ball landed at Nollenberger, who shot in from close range.
The Berliners then had to survive a few counterattacks before they had the best opportunity to equalize at the beginning of nine minutes of added time. Magdeburg’s goalkeeper Dominik Reimann brilliantly fended off Linus Gechter’s header from close range and ultimately made the coaching duo Petrik Sander and Pascal Ibold, along with everyone in Magdeburg, celebrate. Ghrieb removed the last doubts about victory with his goal after a counterattack.
Hertha in Fürth, Magdeburg against Kiel
Hertha will now be guests at SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Friday evening (6.30 p.m.). 1. FC Magdeburg welcomes Holstein Kiel on Saturday afternoon (1:00 p.m.).