2. Bundesliga: Five things to look out for on Matchday 8

2. Bundesliga leaders Hertha BSC and Nürnberg will be in action on Friday before Wolfsburg and Heidenheim lock horns the following day in the duel of recent Bundesliga clubs.

Hertha aim to extend winning start against bottom-placed Kiel

The league leaders Hertha BSC will face cellar-dwellers Holstein Kiel away from home on Friday. Apart from their 4-1 victory over Heidenheim in their first home game, Stefan Leitl’s side are yet to record a comfortable victory this season.

However, they continued to find their way under difficult conditions as the 2-1 victory over Greuther Fürth extended their streak to seven wins out of seven. Hertha will be overwhelming favorites on Friday, but they might have to be patient once again to see off their hosts.

Josip Brekalo’s exceptional form would be vital in unlocking Kiel’s stubborn defense as the captain registered nine direct goal involvements (four goals and five assits) in the last six matches.

Tim Walter’s last chance?

Despite their league position, only six teams conceded fewer goals than Kiel this season. Tim Walter’s side avoided defeats in more than half of their games, but the defeat to fellow relegation zone side Eintracht Braunschweig further raised questions about the underfire coach.

The former Stuttgart, Hamburg and Hull City coach saved the club from relegation last term, but the expectations were bigger after his first pre-season with them. The only winless team in the division could think about another early managerial change if results don’t improve before the November’s international break.

Klose and Zoma face newcomers Cottbus

Fresh from his debut for the senior Italy national team, Mohamed Ali Zoma scored his seventh goal of the season for Nürnberg in an early candidate for the “Game of the Season” against Wolfsburg. Miroslav Klose’s side dropped two points after a dramatic injury-time that contributed three goals for the eight-goal thriller.

Meanwhile, Energies Cottbus failed to held on to their early lead away at Darmstadt as they conceded two goals in the last 15 minutes. Claus-Dieter Wollitz’s side will aim to record their first home win since the opening matchday, while Nürnberg target to stay in automatic promotion spot.

Duel of last season’s Bundesliga clubs

Heidenheim and Wolfsburg started the season with hopes of immediate promotions, but they’re far behind Hertha and Nürnberg after the first couple of months of the season. Both sides failed to win their respective matches when the league resumed from the extended international break last week.

However, the point they earned in the 4-4 draw in Nürnberg will feel like a win for Wolfsburg as they did what Cottbus did to them earlier in the season with a dramatic comeback. Tobias Strobl’s side will hope for their second win at Volkswagen Arena when Frank Schmidt’s men will be their guests on Saturday afternoon.

Sandro Wagner’s home debut

Hannover’s underwhelming start to the campaign continued with a 3-0 defeat to Magdeburg in Sandro Wagner’s first game as a 2. Bundesliga coach. The former Germany national team and FC Bayern striker will hope for a better result on his home debut against St. Pauli on Saturday.

St. Pauli drew their first three away games as they sit four points behind third-placed Heidenheim. It’ll also be a special game for Hannover’s new midfielder Marcel Hartel, whose third and last promotion to Bundesliga was achieved with the Kiezkicker.