Opponent profile: Focus on Fortuna Düsseldorf

The trend

After the first three games of the campaign, Fortuna Düsseldorf can boost an evenly balanced record, as well as improving form, as they sit nestled comfortably mid-way up the Bundesliga table. Upon their Bundesliga comeback, the newly promoted side suffered a 1-2 home defeat to FC Augsburg, before travelling to Leipzig and earning a 1-1 draw a week later. With last Saturday’s home win over Hoffenheim, the side from Dusseldorf claimed their first three-pointer in the top-flight. The 2-1 winner was a penalty in the 88^th minute converted by 20-year-old substitute Dodi Lukebakio.

The coach

Friedhelm Funkel has been head coach of Fortuna Düsseldorf since March 2016. Born in Neuss, by Dusseldorf, the 64-year-old is currently the oldest active coach in the Bundesliga. Having made 254 Bundesliga appearances (59 goals) for Bayer 05 Uerdingen, with whom he won the DFB-Cup in 1985, he is the Krefeld club’s all-time record appearance maker. As a coach, Friedhelm Funkel has held positions with 1. FC Köln, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hertha BSC Berlin, amongst others. Holding the record of having won promotion to the top-flight on six occasions with five different clubs, he is often considered the best second-division coach of all time.

The new-signings

The new Fortuna men this season include Marvin Ducksch (from FC St. Pauli following a loan spell with Holstein Kiel), Aymen Barkok (on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt), Kenan Karaman (from Hannover 96) and former Bayern player Diego Contento (from Girondins Bordeaux).

The former favourites

In addition, Düsseldorf also secured the services of three former VfB players: Having won promotion with the Wasenelf in 2017, this summer, on loan Jean Zimmer celebrated promotion to the top-flight with Fortuna and was subsequently signed on a permanent deal. He was followed from Baden-Württemberg to the North Rhine Westphalian capital by Matthias Zimmermann and Marcin Kaminski, on a one-year loan deal. Jean Zimmer notched up 16 games in the 2. Bundesliga, Matthias Zimmermann 35 and Marcin Kaminski has made 48 competitive appearances in the shirt with the infamous hoop. Kevin Stöger also made 51 third-flight appearances with the VfB reserves, whilst Stuttgart born Kenan Karaman learned his trade in the VfB youth teams.