Too many mistakes: Magdeburg loses in Karlsruhe

1. FC Magdeburg suffered a setback in the promotion battle in the 2nd Bundesliga. Despite taking the lead at one stage, the club lost 3-1 (1-1) at Karlsruher SC in front of 26,148 spectators. Baris Atik (30') had put FCM ahead, but Nicolai Rapp (45+3), Christoph Kobald (48') and Marvin Wanitzek (69') turned the game around. Atik was also shown a yellow card (90.+4).

Magdeburg, who would have moved up to second place in the table with a win, remain in fourth place for the time being with 38 points. "The goals we conceded today were far too easy. If we stop that, maybe score the 2-0, then the game will look different," said FCM captain Dominik Reimann on Sky.

Magdeburg started with Abu-Bekir Ömer El-Zein in place of the injured Alexander Ahl-Holmström, with Tobias Müller moving into central defense for Daniel Heber (not in the squad). Winger Lubambo Musonda was also back on the bench for the first time since his injury at the start of October. KSC started with a few counter attacks, but apart from two harmless shots across goal by Mikkel Kaufmann, nothing came of it at first.

Equalizer in stoppage time

The FCM then took control of the game, but were unable to find any gaps in the hosts' defensive structure. It was not until midway through the half that the visitors got their first shots on target, but Atik (20th) missed and Livan Burcu (23rd) and El-Zein (24th) were blocked. Magdeburg kept up the pressure and Atik made it 1:0.

The visitors had more problems defensively with the now more active KSC, even if there were still no big scoring chances. KSC then took advantage of a corner in stoppage time to equalize.

After the break, Musonda came on for El-Zein and Mohammed El Hankouri moved into central midfield for FCM. However, that did not bring more stability at first - Karlsruhe turned the game around, partly because Musonda lost a header duel against Wanitzek and Kobald dusted off the ball (48'). Magdeburg's Burcu missed the equalizer shortly afterwards, failing to beat the KSC goalkeeper twice.

No gaps, too few ideas

Magdeburg continued to try to score via the wings and long balls to striker Kaars, but KSC were alert and allowed little. As a result, their attempts often got stuck or were simply too imprecise to create regular scoring opportunities. Wanitzek's goal to make it 1:3 finally took the air out of the game. In the end, FCM were off the pace in three situations, but that was enough for the efficient KSC to score three goals - and lead to FCM's first away defeat since October. The yellow card for Atik (90.+5) after a foul was unnecessary.