FC Nürnberg [2. Bundesliga]

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Bundesliga, Matchday 30 | PREVIEW
Nürnberg – Arminia Bielefeld

The "Great Escape" is on for Nürnberg after they won their re-arranged match against Wolfsburg. Der Klub are leaving it really late in their bid to avoid the dreaded drop into the second division and three points against Bielefeld are a real must. as the visitors are one of the sides that Nürnberg will want to see sucked into the bottom three.

Bielefeld however look like they are going to keep fighting till the end and have enjoyed two wins in their last three with last week’s 1-0 home win over Bayer Leverkusen particularly impressive.

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Abardonando: "The home win was extremely important"

Nuremberg's Jacques Abardonado gave the club's magazine an interview.

Question: Jacques Abardonado, how did you feel after the thriller against VfL Wolfsburg?

Jacques Abardonado: Pooh... I was completely knackered. After the floodgates had opened in the first game the sun scorched this time, it was very hot on the pitch. We had to be on our toes all the time in order to keep a clean sheet. The home win was extremely important for us. It benefitted us, the fans were happy and the mood in the team is finally better. Now we know that we can go on like that.

Question: Safety is closer enough - two points away, to be precise.

Abardonando: That's right. We can move out of the drop zone with a win on Saturday. We have to link to the performance against the "Wolves". I'm looking forward to another home game, the "Club" really has great fans.

Question: You're playing for FCN since the beginning of the year, how do you get along in Nuremberg?

Abardonando: I'm really fine since my wife and the kids are here with me, I had been a bit homesick before. We have found a nice flat by now, the kids go to school. The city is very nice.

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite

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Nürnberg 2 - 2 Arminia Bielefeld

30' [1 - 0] M. Mintal
39' [2 - 0] I. Saenko
47' [2 - 1] A. Wichniarek
60' [2 - 2] M. Bollmann

Nürnberg 2-2 Arminia Bielefeld

Nürnberg let slip a two-goal lead at home to Bielefeld to give up the chance of escaping the relegation zone.

The home side took the lead on 29 minutes when Marek Mintal and Jan Koller combined well in the penalty area, before the Slovak fired in a low shot into the left-hand corner to fire up the hopes of the home fans.

Those survival hopes were stoked up even further ten minutes later when Ivan Saenko latched onto a superb 40 meter long pass from Engelhardt following a Bielefeld corner and the Russian smashed the ball past a helpless Rowan Fernandez.

The away side however grabbed a goal back early in the second half when Wichniarek received the ball from substitute Zuma and beat Daniel Klewer with a right-foot shot.

Nürnberg then allowed the lead to slip from their hands on the hour mark when they allowed Bollmann to get his head on the end of a Marx cross to nod in and make it 2-2.

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Return of the playmaker

This is a big one for 1. FC Nürnberg! "Our task is to take three points", says coach Thomas von Heesen ahead of the game at Borussia Dortmund.

They may yet be aided in their efforts by the return to the squad of two fans' favourites for the fixture, as von Heesen explained: "Zvjezdan Misimovic and Peer Kluge were able to train without pain again. We have to wait and see now what happens at the final session."

On the down side, Dominik Reinhardt (muscle fibre tear) and Brazilian defender Glauber (adductor trouble) are both out, while Jaromir Blazek will miss the rest of the season with a damaged stomach muscle. "That's that for him", said von Heesen.

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Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Nürnberg

Nürnberg failed to beat Borussia Dortmund and claim the three points they desperately needed. The game was dominated by the two keepers, who pulled off a number of fine saves between them to keep their respective sides in the game.

Thomas Doll was forced into two changes with Marcel Höttecke coming in for the injured Marc Ziegler. Mats Hummels replaced Christian Wörns who had a stomach problem.

Thomas von Heesen decided against making any changes to the side that drew last weekend against Bielefeld, which meant that Zvejezdan Misimovic was on the bench once more.

First Half

In the cauldron of the Signal Iduna Park, Nürnberg carved out the first chance of the game after four minutes and it was Dortmund old boy Jan Koller who had the opportunity. Robert Vittek held off the challenge of Kruska, before flighting in an inviting ball for the Czech striker. He got his head to it but directed it just over the Dortmund bar.

A good ball from Ivan Saenko into the penalty area on the quarter hour mark found Vittek, who went down under the challenge of Mats Hummels. Half-hearted appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee Jochen Drees and Nürnberg had to settle for a corner.

Nürnberg keeper Daniel Klewer produced a fantastic save on 25 minutes to deny Alexander Frei. The Swiss international was played through clean on goal following a super ball from Tinga which beat the offside trap. Frei attempted an early shot but 31 year old Klewer denied him with a top save.

Just after the half hour mark, Blaszczykowski burst down the right but was unceremoniously floored on the edge of the area by Pinola. Petric however fired the resulting free kick horribly high and wide.

On 38 minutes it was 21 year old Marcel Höttecke’s turn to pull off a superb save. Ivan Saenko lofted a ball into the area, and Jan Koller did well to stoop and beat Mats Hummels to the ball. His downward header looked destined for the back of the net before the young stand-in keeper pulled off a great save to parry away.

The first half saw Dortmund looking more like the away side, with Nürnberg forcing the pace and slowly increasing the pressure. Dortmund seemed happy to defend and look to hit the visitors on the break.

Second Half

Both sides came out unchanged at the start of the second half, and Dortmund started brightly. A Kringe cross was flapped at by Klewer at the start of the second period, before hitting Pinola on the arm. Despite their protests for a penalty, the referee waved play on.

Minutes later and Blaszczykowki advanced before letting fly from 25 meters, but keeper Klewer got down well again to save. The resulting corner saw Alexander Frei get a header in which Jan Koller did well to clear from just in front of the goal line with the keeper beaten.

The game was improving as an attacking spectacle and on 55 minutes, Jan Koller squared a great ball to Robert Vittek, which just needed converting, but the Slovak got his feet in a muddle and fluffed the chance.

‘Lady Luck’ was certainly not shining on Nürnberg on 58 minutes when Marek Mintal was fed well by Jan Koller, but he saw his shot deflect off Robert Kovac and against the crossbar.

On 72 minutes Alex Frei once again beat the Nürnberg offside trap and bore down on goal, but yet again ‘der Klub’ keeper Daniel Klewer got the better of him with a fine save with his leg.

It really was a game for the two keepers as Höttecke pulled off a great save to match what Klewer had done for Nürnberg. A Misimovic free kick from the bye line was flicked goalwards by Galasek, but the young BVB keeper clawed the ball away as Jan Koller looked to pounce.

On 86 minutes Andreas Wolf was booked for a foul on Klimowicz on the edge of the area, but was lucky not to have been punished with a penalty.

Neither side was able to find a way though in the end, leaving the away side frustrated as they failed to claim the three points they so desperately needed. With three matches remaining now, ‘der Klub’ now face a hugely difficult task to remain in the top flight.

Borussia Dortmund: Höttecke, Rukavina, Hummels, Kovac, Dede, Kruska (Buckley 63), Kringe, Tinga, Blaszczykowski, Frei, Petric (Klimowicz 63)

Nürnberg: Klewer, Jacobsen, Wolf, Abardonardo, Pinola, Galasek, Engelhardt (Mnari 83), Mintal, Vittek, Saenko (Misimovic 63), Koller

Goal.com - Germany - All Square As Dortmund Hold Wolfsburg

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Bundesliga, Matchday 32 | PREVIEW
Nürnberg – Duisburg

This game at the easycredit Stadion is a real “six-pointer” with 17th placed Nürnberg taking on 16th placed MSV Duisburg with just a point separating them.

A win for ‘der Klub’ will still not be enough to get them out of the bottom three, but it will give them hope that they can escape the drop by getting the required points from their last two games against Hertha Berlin and Schalke. Thomas von Heesen will be praying for a win, while also crossing his fingers that the teams above the also drop points.

Duisburg’s shock win over Leverkusen on Sunday has given the Zebras genuine hope of survival, and taking points off of Nürnberg on Wednesday will provide another boost to their bid to stay in the Bundesliga.

It promises to be an extremely nervous evening at the easycredit Stadion.

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Nurnberg 2 - 0 Duisburg

10' [1 - 0] A. Charisteas
32' [2 - 0] H.J. Pinola

Nürnberg 2-0 Duisburg

Nürnberg have given themselves a massive boost in the bid to stay up with an important home win over fellow strugglers Duisburg.

After a cautious opening the home side calmed their nerves with a goal from Charisteas on 10 minutes. With the Duisburg defence asleep, Misimovic fed the Greek striker with a quick throw-in. He sped past Willi before firing in a shot which took a deflection off of Avalos to give Tom Starke no chance.

The crowd inside the easycredit Stadion were given a further boost on 32 minutes with Pinola grabbing the second for the home side. Given far too much space and time, Engelhardt found Jan Koller on the edge of the box. The giant Czech played onto the Argentine, who fired in a powerful shot into the top left hand corner.

The win doesn’t see Nürnberg out of the bottom three, but it does give them hope of avoiding the dreaded drop.

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Bundesliga, Matchday 33 | PREVIEW
Hertha Berlin – Nürnberg

Hertha continue to rely heavily on Serbian striker Marko Pantelic and it was his performance combined with some excellent goalkeeping from Jaroslav Drobny that saw the capital club beat Bayer Leverkusen at the Bay-Arena in midweek.

Lucien Favre will be targeting a top ten finish this season, so three points this weekend are a must. Things will however be difficult against a team fighting tooth and nail for survival.

Nürnberg have given themselves real hope following their 2-0 in over fellow relegation candidates Duisburg on Wednesday.

Thomas von Heesen will want his side to build upon that, knowing that anything less than a win could see them down if results elsewhere go against them. Last season’s Cup winners are leaving it really late, but the belief is there that they can stay up.

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Hertha BSC 1 - 0 Nurnberg

74' [1 - 0] D.A.C. Rafael

Hertha Berlin 1-0 Nürnberg

A solitary goal from Raffael at the Olympiastadion was enough to see Hertha home and inflict further misery upon Nürnberg.

The Hertha playmaker sprinted onto a through pass beating Pinola before beating Klewer. The defeat means that ‘der Klub’ are ever nearer being relegated and their fate will be decided next weekend on the final day of the season. They have to beat Schalke and pray that Bielefeld don’t beat Stuttgart.

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Bundesliga, Matchday 34 | PREVIEW
Nürnberg – Schalke

This really is the last-chance saloon for Nürnberg as they look to stage the great escape and keep their place in the Bundesliga. This season has been an unmitigated disaster for last season’s Cup winners and few would have predicted this kind of fall from grace.

The bringing in of new trainer Thomas von Heesen did not have the desired effect as the new man at the helm has struggled to stop the downward spiral of ‘der Club’. They now face a last-day make-or-break match with Schalke, who themselves still have a lot to play for.

Last weekend’s defeat to Hertha Berlin did the Franken no favours so they have to win on Saturday to have any chance of overhauling Bielefeld and saving themselves.

Schalke sit third and trail second place Werder Bremen by two points, so the Königsblauen are going to have to win and rely on Bayer Leverkusen beating Werder at the Bay-Arena. Another year has past without Schalke winning that elusive title, but finishing second, combined with their Champions League quarter final appearance, would put a more positive light on their season.

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Nurnberg 0 - 2 Schalke

20' [0 - 1] M.J. Bordon
61' [0 - 2] M.J. Bordon

Nürnberg 0 Schalke 2

Nürnberg were relegated in a wholly disappointing game for the fans of ‘der Klub’. In a game they had to win, they never looked like scoring and lost 2-0. What makes matters worse is that Bielefeld were held to a draw at Stuttgart so a point would have done to secure their survival.

The positive, expectant mood inside the easycredit Stadion was soon dampened when Bordon headed the visitors ahead after 19 minutes. A classic corner delivered by Pander saw the Schalke captain rise strongly to power in an unstoppable header.

The Königsblauen then hammered another nail into the Nürnberg coffin on the hour mark with Bordon getting his and Schalke’s second of the afternoon. Pander’s free kick was narrowly missed by Kevin Kuranyi and Klewer was forced to parry. However Bordon was on the spot to stab home from close range.

The win though was not enough to secure second spot for Schalke as Werder beat Bayer Leverkusen.

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FCN defender leaves

1. FC Nürnberg defender Michael Beauchamp has joined Danish club Aalborg BK for an undisclosed fee.

Beauchamp, currently on international duty with Australia, had been on a contract good through 2009.

He had played 30 Bundesliga games for FCN since 2006, scoring one goal.

The 27-year-old had missed out on the DFB Cup final last season when a thigh injury ruled him out of Nuremberg's 3-2 extra time win over Stuttgart.

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite

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FCN goalkeeper departs

Jaromir Blazek has signed a two-year contract with Czech side Sparta Prague.

The goalkeeper had joined 1. FC Nürnberg one year ago and played 25 Bundesliga matches.

Blazek had also kept goal for Nuremberg in the UEFA Cup, playing a vital role in the club's road to the last 32.

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