277th Franken-Derby: unbeaten Nürnberg visit Fürth with hat-trick hero Zoma

277th Franken-Derby opens matchday two

The 277th Franken-Derby between SpVgg Greuther Fürth and 1. FC Nürnberg will take place on Saturday, 15 August 2026, at 13:00 in Fürth (broadcast on Sky), already on the second matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. Both clubs opened the season unbeaten: Nürnberg won 3:0 at home against Dynamo Dresden, their first opening-day victory in seven years, while Fürth drew 1:1 away at Bundesliga-relegated St. Pauli. It is the most frequently played derby in German football.

Zoma in the spotlight

All eyes will be on Nürnberg striker Mohamed Ali Zoma, who scored all three goals against Dresden. The 22-year-old, born in Italy and signed a year ago from the Italian third division, was already the club's top scorer last season with 14 goals. He is now considered a transfer candidate should a club offer more than 20 million euros. Nürnberg coach Miroslav Klose noted Zoma's grounded response to the attention.

“You couldn't tell at all, he was as down-to-earth as always, totally normal. He trained really well, can carry the momentum.”

Klose stressed that no individual wins a derby alone.

“I have never seen anyone who decides a derby alone, it is always the cohesion and compactness of the team that wins games.”

Both coaches unbeaten in the derby

Klose has not lost to Fürth since taking over Nürnberg, with two wins in the 2024/25 season followed by two draws last season. When asked whether Fürth was his favorite opponent, he replied with a smile.

“If I answer that with yes, I know the headline.”

Fürth coach Heiko Vogel is similarly unbeaten in the neighborhood duel. He debuted on the Fürth bench with a 2:2 draw in the 275th derby in early December and secured a 1:1 in the second meeting in early May. Vogel plans a collective approach against Zoma.

“The good thing is that Zoma doesn't just play against one player, but against us as a team.”

Derby history and new faces

In the all-time record across 276 previous meetings, Nürnberg hold a commanding lead with 142 wins to Fürth's 81. New Nürnberg defender Fynn Otto, a 24-year-old who joined from SC Verl in the summer, made his debut against Dresden wearing a turban after a collision and impressed alongside fellow new signing Alexios Kalogeropoulos in defence. Otto described the weight of the fixture.

“From second one, since I've been here at the Club, I've noticed how important this game is for the city and region.”

1. FC Nürnberg142

Greuther Fürth81

1. FC Nürnberg

142 wins

Greuther Fürth

81 wins

Data from the article text

Other matchday fixtures

Two other 2. Bundesliga matches are scheduled on the same afternoon. Hertha BSC will host 1. FC Heidenheim at the Olympiastadion in the first-ever league meeting between the two clubs. Hertha previously beat Heidenheim 2:1 in the DFB-Pokal in October 2024, when the Berlin side were in the second division and Heidenheim in the Bundesliga. Promoted VfL Osnabrück will face 1. FC Magdeburg in the third fixture of the day.