61,515 witnessed Nuremberg suffer what many would consider an unlucky defeat at the hands of Schalke 04. And despite the great traditional friendship between the two sets of fans, at 3.30pm the mutual sympathy was suspended for 90 minutes!

New coach Dieter Hecking introduced a new strike partnership of Angelos Charisteas and Albert Bunjaku, with the mission of keeping 1.FCN in the Bundesliga over the course of the remaining 17 games. And a good performance in an entertaining game gave some hope. Unfortunately for Der Club, the final score was 1-0 to the hosts.

A new defensive look was also sported by Nuremberg – on-loan Brazilian Breno partnered Andreas Wolf in the centre of defence, while another loanee, Andi Ottl, partnered Harvard Nordveit in holding midfield roles just in front of the centre-backs. Although Schalke tried to create chances, this defensive formation held strong.

At the other end of the pitch Bunjaku and Charisteas created chances which were sadly not converted into goals. The best of these fell to the Greek in the 26^th minute when a Bunjaku through ball was not dealt with by Bordon for the hosts, and Charisteas faced S04 goalkeeper Neuer alone. The shot to the corner would have beaten any lesser goalkeeper but Neuer was able to just turn it onto the post with a fine fingertip save.

With the score level and goalless at half-time, both sides will have felt positive about creating further chances after the break. Unfortunately for Nuremberg, it was Kevin Kuranyi who made the breakthrough after just three minutes. Farfan turned Pinola and his cross was met by Kuranyi who was just a little faster than Dennis Diekmeier. Soon after, Pinola picked up his fifth yellow card and an automatic one match suspension.

As the game went on, Hecking brought on two further strikers in Christian Eigler and Maxim Choupo-Moting but this four-pronged attack could not create the equalizing goal. Eigler went close when he ran through the S04 defence but somehow his shot managed to deflect onto the post off the advancing Neuer.

After the game Dieter Hecking said, "We presented ourselves well…If the team continues to achieve what they have shown today, we'll also get points.”

His opposite number, Felix Magath considered his team to have been lucky to have had Neuer in goals.

Australian striker Dario Vidosic has joined MSV Duisburg of Bundesliga 2 on loan until the end of the season. The 22-year-old wants regular football to help cement his place in the Australia squad for this year's World Cup in South Africa. Vidosic played an integral part in last season's promotion, scoring three crucial goals as 1.FCN secured the promotion play-off spot.

Meanwhile, 29-year-old second team striker, Markus Fuchs, has signed for FC Saabrueken of the Regionlliga West. Fuchs, who suffered a broken metatarsal in August, has a contract with his new club until 2012.

Vidosic follows compatriot Matthew Spiranovic out of the club. The centre-half has joined Japanese outfit, Urawa Red Diamonds on loan until the end of 2010.

37,464 were in the easyCredit Stadium to witness Der Club draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. In moderate winter temperatures, there was an upbeat mood on the new Nordkurve (now with increased standing capacity) for the first home game of the crucial second half of the season.

After a cautious start from both teams, it took until midway through the first half before the deadlock was broken. A Christian Eigler shot in the 25th minute was not quite good enough to beat Eintracht goalkeeper Nikolov, but two minutes later there was finally something to cheer for the club and its fans. Pascal Bieler took a free kick from the right and Eigler jumped highest to head the ball into the net.

Starting without the suspended Javier Pinola at left-back following his fifth yellow card against Schalke, Dieter Hecking was soon facing another defensive change for the next game as captain Andreas Wolf collected his fifth yellow for a 13^th minute foul.

In the 40th minute, Frankfurt were level. An Ochs cross from the right found Kohler unmarked in the middle, and he was able to head home the equalizing goal.

In the second half, neither side was able to add to their tally. Albert Bunjaku and Ilkay Gündogan had reasonable chances but both sides had to settle for a draw and just one point each.

Club coach Dieter Hecking was pleased to have broken the run of five straight defeats and was happy with the motivation and commitment of his players in most situations. However, he went on to say, "We were not so calm and confident, like the Frankfurter. The team has repeatedly given everything. Unfortunately, a point is too little at home. The fans have supported us fantastically."

French-born, Senegalese international midfielder, Mickael Tavares, has joined Der Club from Hamburg until the end of the season. There is an option to buy the27-year old, who joined HSV 12 months ago from Sparta Prague. Tavares, who will wear the number 21 shirt for Nuremberg, has played 15 Bundesliga games, and has to-date represented Senegal twice.

As 1.FCN entered the AWD Arena in Hannover, it was clear to all involved at the club that three points would be vital in the battle to remain in the Bundesliga. And to get that win goals would be needed from the team who had not scored from open play since the final seconds of the game in Wolfsburg over two months previously. The situation demanded big performances and Swiss striker Albert Bunjaku was able to provide the biggest of all with his first hat-trick for Der Club as Nuremberg recorded a most welcome 3-1 victory.

With coach Dieter Hecking making four changes – Javier Pinola back in at left back, Dominic Maroh in for the suspended Andi Wolf, and Daniel Gygax and Ilkay Gündogan being replaced by loan signing Mickael Tavares and Marek Mintal – there was a clear intention to build on the good performance against Schalke and the point against Frankfurt.

 
The first 30 minutes passed with barely a chance for either side. Both teams started cautiously with a lot of patience in the build-up play, but in the 30^th minute Angelos Charisteas won the ball on the left and found Mintal. The Slovak played a perfect ball into the box for Bunjaku who guided the ball through the legs of the Hannover goalkeeper from an acute angle for the first goal of the afternoon. 1,500 travelling Clubberer celebrated!

Bunjaku’s second came in the 64^th minute. Mintal, who was showing vision and creativity in midfield, played in Dennis Diekmeier  with a superb ball through the right-hand channel. Diekmeier raced to the by-line before pulling the ball back to Bunjaku on the edge of the Hannover area. The striker met the ball beautifully, firing Nuremberg into a 2-0 lead.

However, 1.FCN were not going to get it all their own way. Within a minute of Bunjaku’s goal, Stajner had equalized for the hosts after the Nuremberg defence should have dealt far better with a rare Hannover attack.

The nerves were settled again four minutes later when Charisteas provided a through-ball in the centre of the pitch. Bunjaku collected the pass and sprinted into the Hannover area before coolly slotting home his ninth goal of the season.

After the game, speaking on his 31^st birthday, 1.FCN goalkeeper Raphael Schafer said, "I'm grateful for Albert's birthday present. He did a good job… We have restored the connection in the table.”

Bunjaku himself stated, “It was a very good game for us. Today we can celebrate, tomorrow we have to train hard. It was important for the self-confidence – today we dealt with the pressure well and deserved the three points."