2. Bundesliga: Magdeburg ease relegation concerns as Ende’s Düsseldorf debut end in defeat

2. Bundesliga: Magdeburg ease relegation concerns as Ende’s Düsseldorf debut end in defeat

Alexander Ende’s Fortuna Düsseldorf debut didn’t get off to a good start as a spirited Magdeburg performance saw the hosts go 2-0 up inside the first 15 minutes. Laurin Ulrich’s second goal of the season opened the gates for Petrik Sander’s boys in the second minute.

The Stuttgart loanee did score his first 2. Bundesliga goal in last week’s 4-3 defeat to Paderborn. Lubambo Musonda, who netted Magdeburg’s first equalizer on that night, provided the assist for the 21-year-old midfielder.

A couple of minutes later, Florian Kastenmeier made a great save from Alexander Nollenberger’s one-on-one chance. However, Düsseldorf’s captain had to take the ball once again a few minutes later.

Baris Atik was involved in the move for the first goal and assisted on the second with a brilliant through pass to the man in scintillating form, Mateusz Żukowski. The Polish striker netted his sixth goal in four games with a first-time hit.

Żukowski missed the first 12 games of the season due to injury, but the summer signing from Slask Wroclaw (for a reported €250k) is leading the scoring chart with 17 goals. The visitors improved a bit after that as Sima Suso had their first big chance right after Magdeburg’s second goal.

The end-to-end nature of the game continued early after the restart as Kastenmeier made a superb save to deny the lively Atik from range. Fortuna’s goalkeeper was furious with himself for misjudging Nollenberger’s cross a couple of minutes later, but the goal was chalked off for an offside after a VAR check.