Contents
- Competition: 2. Bundesliga
- Date: 16th January, 2026
- Kickoff: 17:30 UK / 18:30 CET
- Venue: Merkur Spiel-Arena
Fortuna Düsseldorf host Arminia Bielefeld in the opening 2. Bundesliga clash of the new year. Both clubs find themselves in the lower reaches of the table heading into the mid-winter restart, separated by only a narrow margin of points but sharing a common objective of escaping the relegation zone.
Fortuna Dusseldorf vs Arminia Bielefeld Head to Head (H2H) stats
-
Arminia Bielefeld
5 : 1
Fortuna Dusseldorf
2. Bundesliga
-
Arminia Bielefeld
2 : 2
Fortuna Dusseldorf
Club Friendlies 3
-
Arminia Bielefeld
2 : 2
Fortuna Dusseldorf
2. Bundesliga
-
Fortuna Dusseldorf
4 : 1
Arminia Bielefeld
2. Bundesliga
-
Fortuna Dusseldorf
4 : 2
Arminia Bielefeld
2. Bundesliga
-
Arminia Bielefeld
0 : 2
Fortuna Dusseldorf
2. Bundesliga
Historically, Fortuna Düsseldorf hold the edge in this fixture. In 14 recent meetings, Düsseldorf have recorded 9 wins, Arminia 3, with 2 draws. The reverse fixture earlier in the season ended with Arminia Bielefeld completely dismantling Fortuna Düsseldorf 5-1, although Arminia played the entire second half with a numerical advantage following a second bookable offence for Fortuna’s Tim Oberdorf.
Fortuna Dusseldorf team overview
Fortuna’s season has been inconsistent, reflected in their 5-2-10 (W-D-L) record and a goal difference of -12, the joint-worst in the league. Their campaign has been hindered by a crowded injury and suspension list: key absentees expected for this fixture include Jesper Daland (suspension), Julian Hettwer (knee), Tim Rossmann (illness), Sotiris Alexandropoulos (injury) and Tim Breithaupt (injury).
Fortuna’s recent league form has lacked stability. Their last recorded match before the winter break was a 2-1 home win over Greuther Fürth, a result that offered crucial points but did little to alter their position near the relegation spots. They have scored only 15 goals all season - the worst attacking output among all 18 teams - emphasising offensive struggles that have left them averaging less than one goal per game; defensive frailties have contributed just as significantly to their low points tally.
Last matches of Fortuna Dusseldorf
-
Slovan Liberec
1 : 3
Fortuna Dusseldorf
Club Friendlies 3
-
Fortuna Dusseldorf
2 : 1
SpVgg Greuther Fürth
2. Bundesliga
-
Elversberg
1 : 0
Fortuna Dusseldorf
2. Bundesliga
-
Fortuna Dusseldorf
0 : 2
Schalke 04
2. Bundesliga
-
Dynamo Dresden
2 : 1
Fortuna Dusseldorf
2. Bundesliga
Fortuna Dusseldorf lineup
Goalkeeper
-
33
Florian Kastenmeier
Defenders
-
19
Emmanuel Iyoha
-
15
Tim Christopher Oberdorf
-
44
Elias Egouli
-
2
Jesper Daland
Midfielders
-
46
Sima Suso
-
8
Anouar El Azzouzi
-
24
Florent Muslija
-
23
Shinta Karl Appelkamp
Forwards
-
13
Cédric Itten
-
10
Christian Rasmussen
Arminia Bielefeld team overview
Arminia’s season has also been challenging but slightly more stable than their hosts. With a 5-4-8 record and a positive goal difference (+3), Bielefeld lie marginally above the drop zone. Their away form, however, has been modest, and squad fitness remains an issue: Daniel Richter, Jeredy Hilterman, Roberts Uldrikis and Vincent Ocansey are all reported unavailable due to injuries.
Bielefeld’s form has seen mixed results, with draws and losses distributed with occasional wins. A late, stoppage-time equaliser in their final match before the winter break against Hertha (1-1) exemplified both their resilience and tendency to struggle for full three-point clashes.
Last matches of Arminia Bielefeld
-
Hansa Rostock
1 : 0
Arminia Bielefeld
Club Friendlies 3
-
Hertha Berlin
1 : 1
Arminia Bielefeld
2. Bundesliga
-
Arminia Bielefeld
0 : 0
Kaiserslautern
2. Bundesliga
-
Bochum
1 : 0
Arminia Bielefeld
2. Bundesliga
-
Arminia Bielefeld
1 : 2
Preußen Münster
2. Bundesliga
Arminia Bielefeld lineup
Goalkeeper
-
1
Jonas Thomas Kersken
Defenders
-
19
Maximilian Großer
-
23
Leon Schneider
-
3
Joel Felix
-
2
Felix Hagmann
-
29
Tim Handwerker
Midfielders
-
21
Stefano Russo
-
6
Mael Corboz
-
38
Marius Wörl
Forwards
-
14
Monju Momuluh
-
37
Noah Joel Sarenren Bazee
Prediction
This fixture projects as a tightly contested battle between two relegation-fighting sides. Statistical profiles suggest a competitive match with chances at both ends, but neither team has shown consistent attacking potency this season. Bielefeld tore apart Fortuna 5-1 in the reverse fixture during the early weeks of the 2025/26 campaign, but almost half a year later this should be a far more competitive affair, with both teams to score a highly plausible outcome given their struggles to keep clean sheets.
Prediction: Both Teams to Score (BTTS).
Three reasons we expect BTTS
- Bielefeld have failed to keep a clean sheet in four of their last five league games.
- Fortuna have failed to keep a clean sheet in 10 successive 2. Bundesliga games.
- BTTS occurred in the reverse fixture between the sides in August, which ended in a 5-1 win for Bielefeld.
Main prediction Fortuna Dusseldorf - Arminia Bielefeld
Both Teams to Score
Best Odds:
Fortuna Dusseldorf vs Arminia Bielefeld standings in 2. Bundesliga
| Regular Season | P | W | D | L |
G - A
|
GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schalke 04 | 17 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 22 - 10 | +12 | 37 |
| 2 | Elversberg | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 31 - 15 | +16 | 34 |
| 3 | Darmstadt 98 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 29 - 17 | +12 | 33 |
| 4 | Paderborn | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 28 - 18 | +10 | 33 |
| 5 | Hannover 96 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 30 - 22 | +8 | 29 |
| 6 | Hertha BSC | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 21 - 16 | +5 | 28 |
| 7 | Kaiserslautern | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 29 - 21 | +8 | 27 |
| 8 | Nürnberg | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 19 - 23 | -4 | 22 |
| 9 | Karlsruher SC | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 25 - 33 | -8 | 22 |
| 10 | VfL Bochum 1848 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 23 - 22 | +1 | 21 |
| 11 | Holstein Kiel | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 20 - 22 | -2 | 20 |
| 12 | Preußen Münster | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 22 - 26 | -4 | 20 |
| 13 | Eintracht Braunschweig | 17 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 20 - 29 | -9 | 20 |
| 14 | DSC Arminia Bielefeld | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 27 - 24 | +3 | 19 |
| 15 | Magdeburg | 17 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 21 - 29 | -8 | 17 |
| 16 | Fortuna Düsseldorf | 17 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 15 - 27 | -12 | 17 |
| 17 | SpVgg Greuther Fürth | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 26 - 44 | -18 | 15 |
| 18 | Dynamo Dresden | 17 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 24 - 34 | -10 | 13 |