Danny Blum's header just two minutes after Javier Pinola's own goal was enough to spoil Ingolstadt's evening, who knew that a win would have almost ensured their place in the Bundesliga next season.

Ingolstadt were edging ever closer to their first promotion to the Bundesliga, though Björn Jopek's amazing brace somewhat slowed that down. Ralph Hasenhüttl made a quartet of changes from that 2-2 draw with 1. FC Union Berlin, in a bid to return to winning ways immediately. Roger came in for the injured Marvin Matip, while Moritz Hartmann, Danilo Soares and Robert Bauer replaced Lukas Hinterseer, Konstantin Engel and Thomas Pledl, who were all benched.

René Weiler's revival had fallen by the way side and they were now struggling to repeat the form that was shown when he took control at the club. A 2-0 win over Sandhausen represented an improvement which was much needed. Ondrej Petrak (concussion) and Peniel Mlapa (bench) dropped out for Jürgen Mössmer and Sebastian Kerk, as they aimed to do the double over their local rivals.

There was a nervous moment early on for Raphael Schäfer, as he slipped onto the ball and almost knocked it into his own goal. Thankfully for the veteran stopper, the ball was tidied up by his defence. Niklas Stark responded at the other end for der Club and his twenty-yard drive zipped just past the post.

Opportunities were limited but the best of those fell the way of the visitors. Jakub Sylvestr had a similar chance to Stark, though his shot flew wide like his team-mate. Pascal Groß was quiet in the beginning for Ingolstadt and his long-range sighter was his first major involvement in the game.

Dave Bulthuis had his hands on his head midway through the half after he failed to make the crucial contact needed to direct Stark's free-kick home. The youngster's effort came back off the post, but no Nürnberg player could turn it home.

The game fell into a slight lull which didn't faze the visiting support, who were making a fantastic noise behind the visiting goal. Stefan Lex fired over from a poor Schäfer punch, though he was under pressure from the Nürnberg defence. Unfortunately for both sets of fans, neither side could make the breakthrough before the half-time whistle and the teams went in goal-less at the break.

Ingolstadt made a change at half-time, in a bid to kick-start their attack, bringing off the ineffectual Mathew Leckie for Lukas Hinterseer. It wasn't the Austrian forward who almost opened the scoring, but Alfredo Morales. The dynamic midfielder passed up a brilliant opportunity from a corner, putting his free header inches wide.

Lex again fired over from the edge of the area, with both teams frustrated by a lack of clear-cut chances. Ingolstadt were looking the most likely to score and they got the goal they deserved, although it came from an unlikely source. Groß' fantastic delivery wasn't met by the hosts, but the unfortunate Javier Pinola headed it into his own net in an attempt to clear. The home fans were jubilant though that was short lived.

Pinola sought immediate redemption and got it. A wonderful ball in from the left was met by substitute Danny Blum; he rose highest and crashed in a powerful header into the bottom corner, leaving Ramazan Özcan with no chance. Blum's goal came just two minutes after Ingolstadt had went ahead; the perfect response from Weiler's men.

Tobias Levels had a great chance to bring Ingolstadt back into the lead, though it was a case of 'right man, wrong place' and the defender dragged his effort wide. Guido Burgstaller also wasted a good chance to decide the game and the resulting corner had to be hooked off the line by Benjamin Hübner.

The draw means that the home team are now just four points away from guaranteeing the 2. Bundesliga title, while another win would ensure their passage into the Bundesliga with an automatic promotion place. That could come as soon as Sunday, when they travel to the Ruhr Valley to face VfL Bochum.

Nürnberg, who had been resigned to a mid-table position for a while now, would have been encouraged by their performance. They take on Braunschweig in a bid to build upon the aforementioned impressive result.