The 11th third league matchday is opened by the chasers Saarbrücken and Braunschweig – the winner beckons a promotion spot for at least one night. While 1860 München are hoping for a win again after five attempts, 1. FC Kaiserslautern want to finally forget their false start with a third win in a row.
The seventh-placed team in the table receives the eighth-placed team on Friday evening (7pm) – and both 1. FC Saarbrücken and Eintracht Braunschweig can draw level with leaders Magdeburg, at least temporarily, with a win. This says it all about how close the action is once again in the 3rd division. The duel between the two traditional clubs, which has also taken place six times in the Bundesliga, is eagerly awaited in Saarland. “The tingling is the same for me with almost every opponent. As far as the atmosphere from the outside is concerned, such games against traditional clubs, who also bring some fans themselves, are of course always something special and even more emotional,” emphasised FCS sporting director Jürgen Luginger.
Three times to nil: Lautern’s defence stands
Emotional was also the mood in Kaiserslautern, an hour’s drive to the east of the Saarland state capital – in a positive sense. The Palatinate side have not conceded a goal in three games, most recently winning 2:0 against Verl and Osnabrück, and travel to their home match against TSV Havelse accordingly buoyed. On Saturday (2 p.m.), coach Marco Antwerpen’s team can regain their position in the top third of the table with a three-goal win at the bottom club. TSV coach Rüdiger Ziehl is also full of anticipation. “The Palatinate is my home. I played for the Red Devils for six years. It’s a special game for me,” said the coach, who kicked for Lautern from 1996 to 2002 and made three Bundesliga appearances in 2001.
1860 in search of a sense of achievement
How different the mood can be with twelve points on the account can be seen when compared to the Red Devils at TSV 1860 Munich, who host surprise runners-up Viktoria Berlin at the same time. After only one win in their last eight matches, the Lions are in a serious crisis. Nevertheless, the team at Grünwalder Straße is keeping calm. “In all clarity: Michael Köllner is not up for discussion,” said president Robert Reisinger recently, reinforcing his coach’s position.
Quartet with a chance at first place
Since the league leaders, 1. FC Magdeburg, can watch the weekend’s action in peace and quiet and will not conclude the matchday until Monday evening (7 p.m.) against Türkgücü München, a whole quartet has its sights set on the top spot. VfL Osnabrück, who host FSV Zwickau on Saturday (2 p.m.), SV Wehen Wiesbaden, who face Viktoria Köln at home, Borussia Dortmund II, who play Würzburger Kickers in front of their home crowd on Sunday (1 p.m.), and the aforementioned Viktoria from Berlin are all just two points behind.
The matchday is completed by the games Freiburg II – Hallescher FC, MSV Duisburg – SV Meppen (both Saturday, 2 p.m.) and the clash between Waldhof Mannheim and SC Verl (Sunday, 2 p.m.).
