Nürnberg twice battled back from first-half deficits to defeat Greuther Fürth in the 277th edition of the Franconian derby, climbing to the summit of the 2. Bundesliga. Julian Justvan and Piet Scobel were on target for Miroslav Klose’s side, who extended their unbeaten run against their local rivals to five matches.
The hosts took the lead on two occasions during an eventful opening period. Felix Klaus, captaining Fürth after returning to his boyhood club last summer, opened the scoring from the penalty spot midway through the half. Nürnberg responded within four minutes when 21-year-old Scobel netted his first official goal of the campaign, continuing a rich vein of form that brought him four goals during pre-season.
Fürth restored their advantage when Klaus finished calmly three minutes after having a second effort ruled out by VAR. The visitors levelled almost immediately as Scobel turned provider for Justvan to beat 18-year-old goalkeeper Florian Hellstern, ensuring the honours were even at the interval.
The second half belonged entirely to the away side. Justvan struck from outside the box to put Nürnberg ahead for the first time, capping a sweeping move. Klaus spurned a golden chance to complete his hat-trick when his weak spot-kick was comfortably saved by Jan Reichert shortly after the hour mark. Scobel then sealed the triumph fifteen minutes from time by grabbing his second of the afternoon.
The victory maintains Nürnberg’s perfect start to the league season following an opening-day hat-trick from Mohamed Ali Zoma against Dynamo Dresden. Despite Zoma drawing a blank this time, Klose’s attack has now found the net seven times in two games, firing the club to the top of the table.
Nürnberg’s place at the summit sets up an intriguing sequence of fixtures. They travel to Viktoria Köln in the DFB-Pokal before returning to league action against Arminia Bielefeld and Holstein Kiel. Fürth, meanwhile, will look to rebound in their cup opener at home to Bochum ahead of a difficult trip to newly-promoted Energie Cottbus.