FC Ingolstadt are a step closer to achieving promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time. The current 2. Bundesliga leaders missed the opportunity to all but confirm the step up as they drew 1-1 with local rivals 1. FC Nürnberg. The club can seal promotion to the top flight with a win against VfL Bochum on Sunday.
With three matches to go, Ingolstadt remain top of the table with 60 points and are seven points ahead of Darmstadt 98, who currently sit in third and occupy the promotion playoff position. Nürnberg appear to be clear of the relegation battle, with an eight-point cushion over sixteenth-placed Erzgebirge Aue.
Nürnberg‘s Javier Pinola scored an own goal to give Ingolstadt the lead in the 70th minute but amidst the celebrations of the hosts, Danny Blum grabbed the equaliser (72).
In front of 15,000 fans in Ingolstadt, it was Nürnberg who made the better start to the game and carved out the first chances. Niklas Stark and Jakub Sylvestr both missed the target early on. Ingolstadt then had a real slice of luck as Alessandro Schöpf’s free kick evaded everyone but rattled the post. The league leaders didn’t offer much in attack and found it difficult against well-organised opposition.
After the break, Ingolstadt took more control of the game and particularly threatened down the right. The next big chance fell to Alfredo Morales, who headed just wide from a corner. The hosts upped the pressure on the visitors and spent long periods camped in and around their penalty area. They only made the breakthrough though when Pinola turned the ball into his own net; however, the 32-year-old atoned for his mistake by setting up the equaliser.
The best players for Ingolstadt were Roger and Pascal Groß, while Nürnberg’s strongest performers were Schöpf and Blum.
FC Ingolstadt are a step closer to achieving promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time. The current 2. Bundesliga leaders missed the opportunity to all but confirm the step up as they drew 1-1 with local rivals 1. FC Nürnberg. The club can seal promotion to the top flight with a win against VfL Bochum on Sunday.
With three matches to go, Ingolstadt remain top of the table with 60 points and are seven points ahead of Darmstadt 98, who currently sit in third and occupy the promotion playoff position. Nürnberg appear to be clear of the relegation battle, with an eight-point cushion over sixteenth-placed Erzgebirge Aue.
Nürnberg‘s Javier Pinola scored an own goal to give Ingolstadt the lead in the 70th minute but amidst the celebrations of the hosts, Danny Blum grabbed the equaliser (72).
In front of 15,000 fans in Ingolstadt, it was Nürnberg who made the better start to the game and carved out the first chances. Niklas Stark and Jakub Sylvestr both missed the target early on. Ingolstadt then had a real slice of luck as Alessandro Schöpf’s free kick evaded everyone but rattled the post. The league leaders didn’t offer much in attack and found it difficult against well-organised opposition.
After the break, Ingolstadt took more control of the game and particularly threatened down the right. The next big chance fell to Alfredo Morales, who headed just wide from a corner. The hosts upped the pressure on the visitors and spent long periods camped in and around their penalty area. They only made the breakthrough though when Pinola turned the ball into his own net; however, the 32-year-old atoned for his mistake by setting up the equaliser.
The best players for Ingolstadt were Roger and Pascal Groß, while Nürnberg’s strongest performers were Schöpf and Blum.
