Opposition Check: Fortuna Düsseldorf

Looking at the all-time table of the 2. Bundesliga, you’ll see a special number behind the name of Fortuna Düsseldorf. The Flingeran team has exactly 1,000 points in this division, placing them 17th (Darmstadt is in 6th place). And despite the 641 games F95 has already played in this league, Fortuna Düsseldorf isn’t a perpetual second-division team. The Düsseldorf team has 854 Bundesliga games on their resume, and the all-time table shows 1,024 points.

From 1971 to 1987, Fortuna played continuously in the top flight of German football, before repeatedly switching between the 1. and 2. Bundesliga in the following years. The ten years between 1999 and 2009, during which the Rhinelanders played in both the Regionalliga and the fourth-tier Oberliga, were challenging times in sporting terms. Since returning to the second division for the 2009/10 season, Fortuna has regularly been among the top teams in the 2. Bundesliga and has celebrated two promotions to the Bundesliga. Another is expected this season, if possible; we’ve taken a closer look at Fortuna in our opponents check.

Fortuna has distinguished itself this season particularly through its precise crossing. Time and again, the wingers manage to get behind the defence with great speed and deliver dangerous balls into the penalty area. Düsseldorf is one of those teams with a high number of incoming crosses. This is a constant threat to any defence. Strikers like Itten, in particular, benefit from the high quality of these passes. For SV 98, this means consistent defending on the flanks and good positioning in the box are essential to neutralise Fortuna’s strength.

When the stands in Darmstadt shake, when blue and white flags fly, and the „Lilien“ transform their Böllenfalltor into a fortress, the atmosphere is special. And amidst all the chants, you can sometimes hear a second echo – that of their friends from Bern. The fan friendship between SV Darmstadt 98 and Young Boys Bern has long been an integral part of the culture of the stands. And that’s exactly where a player who found his way to Germany in the summer of 2025 comes from: Cedric Itten.

So, for some SVD fans, he may be a familiar name. Itten played for YB for three years, scoring 33 goals and being a decisive factor in championship matches and cup nights. He stood for power, aerial prowess, and the absolute will to decide games – qualities that now also distinguish him in Düsseldorf.

Cedric Itten was born on December 27, 1996, in Basel. It was there that his sporting career began, at FC Basel, one of Switzerland’s leading talent factories. His goal-scoring instinct, physicality, and talent were evident early on.

The striker won the league title with FC Basel in his first season, making eleven appearances. As a champion and eager for regular match practice, Itten was loaned to FC Luzern the following season. Itten certainly impressed and was back in the FC Basel squad in September 2017. However, it wasn’t enough for him to finally break through to his hometown club, so the current Swiss international was loaned out again. His new club: FC St. Gallen.

In the match against FC Lugano on September 23, 2018, Itten suffered a serious injury. He tore the cruciate ligaments and medial ligaments in his right knee and was out for almost the entire season. After recovering from his injury, Itten developed into a top performer and goalscorer, scoring 36 goals in 63 competitive matches.

His performances paved the way for him to Scotland, specifically to Glasgow Rangers. With Rangers, he became Swiss champions and cup winners, and played in the Europa League. Despite the two trophies and almost 30 competitive appearances for the Scots, Itten opened a new chapter the following summer, joining Bundesliga newcomers Greuther Fürth on loan. The loan ended after just six months, and Itten returned to Rangers, which he left for good in the summer of 2022 and joined Young Boys, where he spent perhaps the most successful years of his career.

The next step followed before this season: Fortuna Düsseldorf signed the 1.85-meter-tall centre forward. Fortuna was looking for an attacker who could not only control the ball as a wall player, but also pose a goal-scoring threat with his presence in the penalty area. Itten brings exactly that package.

For the 2. Bundesliga, he is a striker who will pose a challenge to any defence. A strong runner, clever in his positioning, and equipped with a nose for goal that can often make the difference. The 28-year-old has already scored three goals this season, and the Lilies should definitely keep him in mind.