2. Bundesliga
Schalke missed the opportunity to move into the Bundesliga 2 top-three and had to come from behind to pick up a point at home to Holstein Kiel, with Simon Terodde on target for the hosts after Alexander Mühling's superb opener.
Schalke 1-1 Kiel
Goals: 0-1 Mühling (67'), 1-1 Terodde (73')
It took the hosts just five minutes to see the ball first ricochet off the returning Simon Terrode and then the Kiel crossbar as Schalke made a blistering start to proceedings. Going in search of a victory that would lift them into the top-three, Rodrigo Zalazar was Schalke's string-puller-in-chief early on and his break from midfield on the 15-minute mark instigated a superb flowing move that was only denied the goal it deserved by Hauke Wahl's excellent intervention. The Royal Blues were lucky to go into the break level, though, thanks to Mikkel Kirkeskov's wonderful free-kick on the stroke of half-time that caught the scrambling Martin Fraisl off guard. The Schalke 'keeper was able to just turn the ball round the post, thanks to his diving save.
The second period began in much the same fashion, with Schalke enjoying the bulk of possession and showing the greater attacking purpose, but finding it difficult to break down a resolute away team that looked to counter attacks and set-pieces to carve openings of their own. Alexander Mühling collected the ball on the edge of the Schalke box before cutting across it on the half volley with the outside of his boot, bending it beyond Fraisl and into the top corner. Schalke's response was immediate and it was Terodde, in his first appearance since Matchday 15, that restored parity by firing home Victor Palsson's through ball. Both Fraisl and opposite number Thomas Dähne made saves late on and neither would be beaten again as the two teams had to settle for a draw.
Match stats
Line-ups
Schalke: Fraisl - Thiaw, Itakura, Sane (Lode 69') - Palsson (c) (Flick 85') - Ranftl, Zalazar (Latza 85'), Idrizi, Ouwejan - Churlinov, Terodde
Unused subs: Fährmann, Bülter, Drexler, Matriciani, Mikhailov, Vindheim
Out: Aydin (hamstring), Drexler (muscular), Kaminski (not included), Langer (knee), Latza (knee)
Coach: Dimitrios Grammozis
Kiel: Dähne - Wahl, Thesker, Komenda (Erras 72') - Sterner (Korb 72'), Mühling (c), Porath, Sander (Benger 78'), Kirkeskov - Bartels, Pichler (Mees 88')
Unused subs: Gelios, Ignjovski, Carrera, Koulis, Arslan
Out: Arp (not included), Awuku (knee), Holtby (not included), Neumann (not included), Reese (not included)
Coach: Marcel Rapp
Dynamo Dresden 1-1 HSV
Goals: 0-1 Glatzel (37'), 1-1 Daferner (61')
The second division got underway with a double header on Friday night and it took HSV talisman Robert Glatzel just 37 minutes to add to his nine Hinrunde goals with a superbly taken 10th league strike of the season. Glatzel fired narrowly wide at the start of the second period and the visitors held their lead until just after the hour mark, but eventually relinquished the three points. Dresden levelled through their own top-scorer, with Cristoph Daferner heading home Julius Kade's cross at the back post to ensure a share of the points.
Hansa Rostock 0-1 Hannover
Goals: 0-1 Maina (58')
In the second of Friday night's two games that marked the start of the Bundesliga 2 Rückrunde, Hansa Rostock were beaten at home by Hannover to push the visitors three points clear of their hosts. Hannover had won two out of three prior to the winter break and they made it three wins from four thanks to a stunning second-half effort from Linton Maina. Breaking on the left wing, Maina cut inside before unleashing a pinpoint, curling finish into the far corner that Markus Kolke in the Hansa goal had no chance of stopping. It was the 22-year-old's fourth goal of the campaign and was enough to give Hannover breathing space between them and their hosts as both look to avoid the drop.
St. Pauli 2-2 Erzgebirge Aue
Goals: 0-1 Zolinski (17'), 1-1 Medic (30'), 1-2 Trujic (72'), 2-2 Amenyido (90')
Sitting in top spot going into the weekend, St. Pauli were looking to reaffirm their status as league leaders against an Erzgebirge Aue side sitting in the bottom-two. It was the visitors that went in front, though, and they twice led through goals from first Ben Zolinski and then Nikola Truji, with Jakov Medic sandwiching those efforts with a Pauli equaliser. It looked as though Erzebirge would collect all three points and move out of the automatic relegation places, until the hosts grabbed a dramatic leveller. Etienne Amenyido was the hero, popping up in the 90th-minute to grab a point for his team.
Werder Bremen 3-0 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 1-0 Füllkrug (66'), 2-0 Ducksch (80'), 3-0 Füllkrug (87')
Red card: Peterson (58')
It may have taken nearly an hour but this game burst into life late on as Werder clinched a statement win in their promotion bid. Unfortunately for the visitors, it was Kristoffer Peterson's straight red card on 58 minutes that turned the game on its head and eventually led to Bremen going on to take all three points. Just eight minutes after Peterson's dismissal, Niclas Füllkrug had Werder in front with his close range header and by the time Marvin Ducksch stroke home with 10 minutes to play the game was all-but decided. There was still time for Füllkrug to grab his second of the game, though, as Werder started the New Year with a victory that places them firmly in the promotion race.
Watch: Werder Bremen 3-0 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Nuremberg 1-2 Paderborn
Goals: 0-1 Michel (41'), 0-2 Platte (44'), 1-2 Moller Daehli (60')
Paderborn had gone five games without a win (D3, L2) going into their first outing of 2022, but they arrested that poor run of form against a Nuremberg outfit that they now leapfrog as the battle for promotion intensifies even further. Sven Michel's 14th goal of the season - that brings him level with Guido Burgstaller as the league's top scorers - gave Paderborn the lead on 41 minutes and by the time Felix Platte found the back of the net three minutes later, the visitors had ensured they went into the break with a two-goal lead. Mats Moller Daehli did pull one back on the hour mark but it proved only to be a consolation.
Darmstadt 2-2 Karlsruhe
Goals: 0-1 Gjasula o.g. (22'), 1-1 Gjasula (48'), 2-1 Holland (51'), 2-2 Schleusener (71')
With St. Pauli dropping points earlier on Saturday, Darmstadt knew they would move top with victory over Karlsruhe. Those hopes were quickly dampened when Klaus Gjasula put into his own net midway through the first-half, but the 32-year-old made amends shortly after the break by pulling his team level by planting Tobias Kempe's corner into the back of the net with a fine header. Fabian Holland had Darmstadt in front, and bound for top spot, three minutes later, but the visitors would deny their hosts first-place as Fabian Schleusener turned home the leveller with 20 minutes to play. The result means Darmstadt remain in second-place, while Karlsruhe stay ninth.
Heidenheim 2-1 Ingolstadt
Goals: 1-0 Leipertz (30'), 1-1 Gebauer (47'), 2-1 Mohr (51')
Looking to close the gap to the leaders where Heidenheim against an Ingolstadt side rooted to the bottom at the start of 2022. Things went to form on the half hour mark, with Heidenheim taking the lead in style through Robert Leipertz's super header. Jonas Föhrenbach's cross from the left was slightly behind the former Ingolstadt man, but Leipertz still managed to steer an inch-perfect finish into the far corner to make it 1-0. The visitors were level shortly after the break through Christian Gebauer's effort that somehow crept inside Kevin Müller's near post but Heidenheim restored their lead within minutes through Tobias Mohr. That was enough to claim all three points and move Heidenheim into third.
Sandhausen 0-3 Jahn Regensburg
Goals: 0-1 Breitkreuz (11'), 0-2 Guwara (33'), 0-3 Boukhalfa (52')
Regensburg needed just 11 minutes to find the breakthrough at Sandhausen, with Steve Breitkreuz scoring his third league goal of the campaign to hand his side an early advantage. They went into the break two-goals to the good thanks to Leon Guwara's strike that capped a wonderful team move. Sarpreet Singh started it all off, switching the ball from right to left and finding Erik Wekesser who, in turn, laid it on a plate for the advancing Guwara to fire home. Regensburg were soon three goals to the good after the interval, Carlo Boukhalfa this time the man on the scoresheet to wrap up a comfortable away win.