Second-division leaders FC Ingolstadt continued their impressive form and extended their lead at the top of the table on matchday 11 thanks to top scorer Lukas Hinterseer. The Austria international netted the only goal of the game against new boys 1. FC Heidenheim and opened the scoring for the sixth time in this campaign. Manager Raphael Hasenhüttl’s men remain the only unbeaten side in the second tier, with 25 points to their name, five clear of second-placed Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Meanwhile, alarm bells are ringing at 1860 München. The bottom side lost 2-1 at home to Bundesliga-relegated side Eintracht Braunschweig. 1860 have just nine points on the board at the foot of the table after suffering their third defeat in succession. Rivals SV Sandhausen and Erzgebirge Aue have two more points than 1860 (both 11), after sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw in the third Sunday game. Aue remain in 14th place, followed by SVS, who have moved out of the relegation zone.
Hinterseer nets in lacklustre encounter
The battle between the best attack in the league of Ingolstadt and the best defence of Heidenheim produced largely little of note. The hosts dictated the game and played the ball fluidly down the flanks, not creating many opportunities. 1. FCH produced little attacking threat throughout the 90 minutes.
Hasenhüttl’s men were then given reason to cheer just before the break. Top goalscorer Lukas Hinterseer rounded off a super Ingolstadt move down the right to give them the lead at the interval. FCI stuck at it in the second half too, but were unable to add another goal.
Kortzorg secures win for Braunschweig
The 1860 goal was put under threat for the first time in the ninth minute after a somewhat slow start in the Allianz Arena, when Havard Nielsen struck the ball narrowly wide of the far post from an acute angle. Hendrick Zuck then tried his luck from a similar position and handed Braunschweig an early lead. There was little reply from the hosts with Markus von Ahlen’s men not looking dangerous and lacking ideas going forward.
The Bundesliga relegated side remained on top, but a shot from 1860’s Valdet Rama was as dangerous as things got from the hosts. They did manage to equalise through a set piece in the 38th minute though, the only way in which they would have found the net. Christopher Schindler headed home from a Daniel Adlung free-kick. Braunschweig worked their way back into the game after the interval and Raffael Kortes’ spectacular strike secured all three points for visitors.
Honours even in Sandhausen
Two sides in the relegation places in the form of Sandhausen and Aue went head-to-head on Sunday too, with excitement in short supply in the opening period. A shot from Aue’s Arvydas Novikovas in the 25th minute was the only chance of note in the first half in the Hardtwaldstadion.
The second half was visibly better – and led to the opener. Romario Kortzorg struck in the 57th minute to break the deadlock for Aue, but they weren’t in front for long as Florian Hübner levelled proceedings seven minutes later.