Friday preview
FC Energie Cottbus and MSV Duisburg face off Friday in a first battle to decide their survival in the Bundesliga.
Last place Cottbus have been waiting six months for their first victory. Duisburg have lost five in a row. Both teams must win. And the sense of urgency is palpable in each camp.
Roque Junior out
"For us it's about survival in the Bundesliga", said Duisburg's captain Ivica Grlic. Coach Rudi Bommer projects a confidence that one wouldn't expect from a team that has lost five straight. "If we play with concentration as a unit, then we'll take the three points back to Duisburg."
Brazilian Roque Junior won't be there to help his teammates however. Boomer considers playing Roque, who was just signed on Wednesday, to be premature: "He can play. But he needs to be in playing shape. He first needs to start training for football", said Bommer.
"You have to make a statement"
Bommer is in a desperate situation to bolster his depleted defence. In addition to the injured Fernando und Iulian Filipescu as well as the suspended Pablo Caceres, Tobias Willi, who was moved to defence as an emergency measure, will also not play.
Bommer won't let this count as an excuse though: "In this type of situation, you have to hold your head high and make a statement."
New cellar dweller?
Energie coach Bojan Prasnikar was equally clear about the urgency to win against Duisburg. "This is a true relegation match. Both clubs are in the same position going into it. We need a victory."
A victory would move Energie out of last place in the table. "That would be psychologically very important for us", said captain Timo Rost.
Line-ups:
Cottbus: Piplica - da Silva, Mitreski, Kukielka, Cvitanovic - Basilla - Angelow, Rost - Skela - Sörensen, Rangelow
Duisburg: Starke - Lamey, Schlicke, Grlic, Weber - Maicon (N'Doum), Tararache - Tiffert, Idrissou - Ishiaku, Ailton
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