Magdeburg now second: 5:2 away win in Elversberg

1. FC Magdeburg lived up to its reputation as the best away team in the 2nd Bundesliga at the start of the season. Outnumbered, the Magdeburg side turned the game around at SV Elversberg and won 5:2 (0:2). Martijn Kaars (46., 70., 90.+1), Xavier Amaechi (77.) and Mohammed El Hankouri (82., penalty) scored for FCM. Luca Schnellbacher (3') and Lukas Petkov (37') had previously put the hosts in front. Frederik Schmahl was shown the red card after an emergency brake (43'). With the win, Magdeburg jumped to second place in the table, level on points with leaders HSV.

In the first competitive match of the new year, coach Christian Titz was without midfielder Silas Gnaka (infection) and new signing Alexander Ahl Holmström. Connor Krempicki started in Gnaka's place and top scorer Kaars started in attack.

The FCM conceded an early goal: After the hosts' first serious attack, Schnellbacher put the ball into the FCM goal from close range.

Game turned around after trailing 2-0

Magdeburg first had opportunities after ten minutes, but Kaars (11) and El Hankouri (11) failed to beat the Elversberg goalkeeper. Magdeburg gained the upper hand - first in possession, then in chances. However, Magdeburg failed to take advantage of one of these opportunities - instead Petkov increased the lead after a counter-attack. When Schmahl held Magdeburg's Mohammed El Hankouri after losing possession, referee Lars Erbst showed red without hesitation.

After the break, FCM got into the game better. Kaars scored with his head from close range with the first attack. Magdeburg still had more of the ball, but Elversberg remained particularly dangerous on the counter-attack, lurking for Magdeburg's passing errors. The visitors struggled for a long time against SVE's compact defending, even though the ball was in the hosts' half most of the time.

It was only in the final twenty minutes that FCM turned the game around. Kaars put a pinpoint pass from Baris Atik into the goal - and after two and a half minutes of waiting, the VAR also confirmed the goal to equalize.

Shortly afterwards, substitute Amaechi flicked the ball into the goal to give FCM the lead. Elversberg went on the attack once more, but El Hankouri decided the game with a penalty. Kaars closed out the scoring with his third goal, completing his first treble in Bundesliga 2 - and setting up the other two goals.