Two sides yet to win in the Bundesliga so far Eintracht Braunschweig and Nuremberg faced off at the Eintracht-Stadion and in the end both sides remained looking for a victory.
Nuremberg were the better side in the first half and took the lead through Adam Hlousek who netted at the far post after a fine cross from Timothy Chandler.
Braunschweig responded by controlling the second period, but they could only find one goal to level the match, which came through Omar Elabdellaoui.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Hello, hello! Thanks for joining me for today's second Bundesliga clash. Not much more time than to bring the teams before kickoff, so here they come.
BRAUNSCHWEIG XI: Kessel; Bicakcic, Dogan, Reichel; Elabdellaoui, Theuerkauf; Bellarabi, Caligiuri, Boland; Kumbela
NUREMBERG XI: Schafer; Chandler, Nilsson, Pogatetz, Plattenhardt; Balitsch, Hasebe; Kiyotake, Hlousek; Ginczek, Drmic
There are the teams - and they're almost ready for kickoff. The final preparations are being done.
KICKOFF: Nuremberg get us started in their red and black.
Braunschweig have started promisingly for a side rock bottom of the league. They are looking composed at the back and Bellarabi looks to fire a cross towards Kumbela, but he cannot quite reach it.
It's quite a low key start to the game. Nuremberg haven't got their passing game in action so far, and Braunschweig haven't shown many signs of getting in behind as yet.
Nuremberg try to work a move down the left, but the hosts are tight at the back and Kiyotake is forced to turn and go all the way back to the defence.
CHANCE! Bellarabi should be storing that! He finds himself free on the left side of the box but a very heavy touch shows too much to Schafer and the goalkeeper smothers it clear. He has to do better.
It's still the hosts doing much of the passing and Kumbela is putting himself about. He just about manages to get on the end of a Theuerkauf cross, but under immense pressure cannot direct it on target.
Nuremberg now are coming into the game a little bit more. No-nonsense defending from Reichel who instead of trying to play it out just hoofs it out for a throw.
You can tell that both these sides are struggling early on. There's very little creativity up front and seemingly even less willingness to commit bodies forward.
Still no real chances to report. Plenty of passing at the back from both sides, but it breaks down anywhere near the goal.
I'm not sure whether the disappointing nature of this one is from the teams not wanting to concede or that they just lack what it takes to create chances. Braunschweig have a free kick... but it's a dreadful attempt and out for a throw on the opposite side.
There's much hope from a Dogan ball aimed in the direction of Boland, but Pogatetz wins the header and the danger goes.
GOAL! Braunschweig 0-1 Nuremberg (Hlousek)
What? A chance? It's finished by Hlousek at the back stick, but that goes was down to Chandler on the right. He burst past everyone and fizzed in a quite brilliant cross that the Czech couldn't not put in.
Braunschweig break through Caligiuri down the middle and he wins the free kick after being fouled by Hlousek. It's about 30 yards out, so there could be a shot on goal...
Boland is inches away from getting on the end of a right wing cross, but it's just too high for him. Nilsson didn't jump with him, which put him off his stride.
Unfortunately, the goal hasn't livened this up any. Braunschweig are playing slightly more directly now, but Kumbele is caught marginally offside. They aren't always given.
A bit of excitement as Chandler miscontrols a pass and it heads out for a goal kick. But no, it hits the flag and stays in play. The hosts' keeper Petkovic is alert enough to get across and start a move. That same move is finished by Kessel, who slashes over.
A couple of committed tackles, one from Boland, liven the crowd up. Braunschweig have a bit of momentum at the end of the half, but Bellarabi gives it to Plattenhardt and the chance has gone. He's operating on the right now but is not having any more joy.
Balitsch fouls Bellarabi on the right, and the hosts have a late chance to swing a free kick into the box..
Reichel,s cross is deflected behind for a corner, which in turn causes all sorts of problems. Nuremberg in the end manage to get it clear as we move into stoppage time.
HALF TIME: Braunschweig 0-1 Nuremberg
To be honest a goal is more than this game deserves. In fairness it is probably harsh for Braunschweig to be behind, but the one really good chance created has been duly converted. The positives: it can only get better. Or stay equally poor.
There simply needs to be more creativity in attack. From both sides. Braunschweig have had more shots and have edged the possession, but I'm struggling to remember anything clear-cut for them.
I'll let you know if there are any changes, but I suspect both coaches will give it 15-20 minutes to see how the second half starts.
The Braunschweig players are back out and have been for some time, but we're still waiting for Schafer and co.
KICKOFF: Here we go then for what will hopefully be a thrilling second 45.
MISS! Oh dear! Ginczek is through nearly from kickoff and opens up his body to shoot, but puts the ball wide! He simply has to at the very least test the keeper!
DISALLOWED! Kumbela puts the ball in, but he's basically five yards offside. He hadn't got back in time and probably shouldn't have been passed the ball really.
BOOKING: It's all a little bit shirty now. Kessel leans into a tackle and gets booked for his troubles. Ginczek stays down afterwards, but is fine.
CHANCES! After the delay, Kiyotake steps up to take the free kick and wins a corner after a deflection from the wall. He goes across to take the corner, which is headed out, but fired low and hard back at goal by Plattenhardt. Straight up the other end Bellarabi slashes an effort wide.
This half has already been better than the first. There is a lot more wing play from the hosts, but up to now Nuremberg have dealt with their crosses well.
Wasteful there for Drmic down the right, who puts a low cross straight out of play. In his defence he didn't have many to aim at, but should at least keep the ball in play under little pressure.
What a poor decision from Kumbela! He drives goalwards with options left and right but instead fires high and wide from about 25 yards. That could have been a real chance.
NUREMBERG SUB: The visitors make a change, with Mike Frantz coming on for Drmic.
I'll be honest - I'd be stunned if Braunschweig got their first home league goal of the season tonight. Nuremberg have been very ordinary lately, but they have not been troubled at all.
BOOKING: Reichel jumps for a header with Hasebe and gives away a free kick. He led slightly with his elbow there and a yellow is probably slightly harsh.
SAVE! Pogatetz can't deal with a long ball from Petkovic, which Kumbele anticipates really well. His shot is powerful and Schafer makes a very good save to his right. Then the ball comes out to Caligiuri but he slashes over.
BOOKING: Another card quickly follows for Ginczek for a late tackle. From the free kick Kumbele is flagged for offside. That's poor - three were off.
GOAL! Braunschweig 1-1 Nuremberg (Elabdellaoui)
Terrific finish! Kumbela finds Bellarabi, who shimmies before laying across to Elabdellaoui. He has a few seconds to gather himself before rifling into the far corner. That's no more than Braunschweig deserve for their second half.
BRAUNSCHWEIG SUB: Ademi comes on for Boland for the hosts. Boland tried hard but was largely anonymous. The fans are now in good voice.
BOOKING: Balitsch is lucky to get away without being sent off there I feel. He definitely kicked a Braunschweig player - I'm not sure who - when he was on the ground. No booking for him though, instead Hasebe is carded for the afters.
Ademi has a great chance to thread Elabdellaoui in, but he hugely overhits the pass and they cannot work anything from it. The hosts have been far stronger in this half and probably deserve to be winning now.
Another offside against the hosts with their enthusiasm. Ademi complains, but he was well off. Still 12 minutes for either side to create what could be a winning chance.
The hosts need a bit more composure in the final third. Too many times have they shot when a pass would be the better option. Bellarabi fires well wide from a ridiculous angle there. He is swiftly hauled off after going down with cramp, with Timo Perthel coming on.
SAVE! Still the hosts try and are looking increasingly more threatening from set pieces. Schafer is again called into action from a Bicakcic header at the far post. That could have been 2-1. Tomas Pekhart comes on for Ginczek.
Ridiculous attempt at an overhead kick from Kumbela moving away from goal, but eventually his side win a corner. The big guys come up again and this time it's dealt with more easily by Nuremberg. They have five minutes to hang on. And hanging on they are.
BOOKING: Kumbela is booked now. He's been a real livewire but that was too enthusiastic and he caught Kiyotake late. He has no complaints.
BRAUNSCHWEIG SUB: Kruppke comes on now for Kumbela, who has finally run out of gas.
Nuremberg with a rare foray forward, however from the corner they earn Braunschweig clear and look to break again. It's wasted, though. Final change for the visitors as Niklas Stark comes on for Kiyotake. Two minutes added on.
SAVE! Another save from Schafer! The shot was drilled hard by Theuerkauf but the diving Schafer keeps it out. In truth, it was comfortable. A header comes in from Kruppke, but it's wide and that may be the last chance.
FULL TIME: Braunschweig 1-1 Nuremberg
Braunschweig have their first point! And their first goal at home in the top flight this season. They were much, much better in the second half and could even have snatched it. On balance, a point is just about fair.
Thanks for joining me for today's Bundesliga action. That's all I've got time for, but I have just long enough to ask you to stick around on site for reaction to all the weekend's sport. Bye for now.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
