FC Energie Cottbus

[Trim]

Tremmel extends in Cottbus

FC Energie Cottbus have extended Gerhard Tremmel's contract.

The 29-year-old put pen to paper on a deal until 2010 in the training camp in Antalya.

The contract is valid for both Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga.

Tremmel has played seven matches this season after replacing Tomislav Piplica between the posts.

***

[Trim]

Energie sign Hertha midfielder

Christian Müller joins FC Energie Cottbus from Hertha BSC.

The 23-year-old put pen to paper on a contract until June 2009.

The midfielder had already joined the Energie squad in their training camp after reaching an agreement with Hertha to cancel his contract.

His contract with Energie will only be valid for the Bundesliga.

***

Energie striker leaves

Francis Kioyo transfers from FC Energie Cottbus to Israeli top flight club Maccabi Netanya FC.

The 28-year-old will leave on a free transfer despite having a contract until 2009.

"We wish Francis Kioyo all the best for his future and say thank you for his commitment here at FC Energie", sporting director Steffen Heidrich said.

Kioyo had joined Energie from Rot-Weiss Essen in 2005, scoring ten goals in 66 matches since.

[Trim]

Energie veteran stays put

FC Energie Cottbus's longest-serving player has extended his contract: Tomislav Piplica has put pen to paper on a deal until 2009.

That means the crowd favourite will stay for at least another season.

"Tomislav Piplica is and remains an important role model of our FC Energie. Additionally he is a perfect professional and a very important factor within the team", sporting director Steffen Heidrich rang the praises.

Piplica plays for Cottbus since. He has featured in 116 Bundesliga and 131 2. Bundesliga games since.

***

[Vargas_4]

The German Football Federation have confirmed that the eight game ban handed down to Energie Cottbus defender Vragel da Silva will stand.

The Bundesliga club had launched an appeal against the suspension given after TV replays showed that the Brazilian violently used his elbow in a league match against Hannover back in December.

The referee didn’t see the off the ball clash with Gaeten Krebs, but the DFB turned to TV evidence to act against the player.

With an already blemished disciplinary record in Germany, the DFB decided to hand down an eight game ban.

Da Silva has been banned in the past for similar violent incidents and was suspended for a total of 10 games last season for two separate incidents.

Da Silva denied making contact with Krebs, but the DFB saw the incident differently and hit the player with a €10,000 fine in addition to the original ban.

The Brazilian will next be available for selection on March 30.

[Trim]

Bundesliga, Matchday 18 | PREVIEW
Energie Cottbus - Bayer Leverkusen

FC Energie may be in the relegation zone, but the east Germans have collected seven points in their last three outings, including a massive 5:1 win over Hannover. Under new coach Bojan Prasnikar, Cottbus have collected 13 points in ten matches. Additionally, the team has conceded just two goals in the first half, and a league-leading nine in the final 15 minutes.

FCE respect Saturdays opponents, but are not fearing Leverkusen at all! "We want the points and we are just as good as our rivals. Fighting intelligently is our philosophy" commented Prasnikar, with a view on the remaining 17 rounds of play. He hopes Cottbus fans will make all the difference in the "Stadion der Freundschaft", adding "the 12th man will be very, very important".

Bayer Leverkusen have won six of their last seven competitive matches, scoring on average three goals in their last six league games. Away from home, Bayer Leverkusen are steady, conceding just two goals in the first half.

"The opening game is always important for every team" stated Head Coach Michael Skibbe in the run-up to the match. "We are confident, and want to take one or better still, all three points home with us. We're closing in on HSV at the top, but Schalke and KSC are close to us below as well." Leverksuen plased out a disappointing 0:0 draw with Cottbus in August.

[Trim]

Energie Cottbus 2 - 3 Bayer Leverkusen

15' [1 - 0] M. Papadopoulos
59' [1 - 1] S. Rolfes
69' [1 - 2] D. Bulykin
77' [2 - 2] C. Bassila
86' [2 - 3] S. Rolfes (pen.)

Energie Cottbus 2 Bayer Leverkusen 3

Bayer Leverkusen got off to a winning start in 2008 but were made to work very hard by the Lausitzer for their points.

On the quarter of an hour mark the home side took the lead. Following a cross from defender Kristian Ipsa, Papadopulos rose the highest to head the ball home against his former club.

The Werkself eventually grabbed the equaliser in the second half with 60 minutes gone. Barnetta played his corner to the near post, where Barbarez flicked on to Rolfes, who poked the ball home from close range.

Michael Skibbe’s side then took the lead on 69 minutes when substitute Dimitri Bulykin converted after Sergei Barbarez had stormed forward and fed the Russian.

The host were not going down without a fight and grabbed the equaliser on 77 minutes through Bassila. Adler was only able to parry a shot from Rost and was powerless to stop Bassila firing in the rebound.

However, there was still time for a winning goal and it arrived four minutes from time through Simon Rolfes. Rivic brought down Schwegler in the box for a penalty, which Rolfes converted to break Cottbus hearts.

[Trim]

FC Energie Cottbus is without Dimitar Rangelov for an indefinite period of time.

The club's best scorer (5 goals) is currently out due to a suspected slipped vertebral disc.

Doctor appointments in Bulgaria

A more in-depth examination should reveal the extent of the injury. "After we have the results of the examination, we'll know the type of rehab necessary and the duration of time the player will be unable to play", said Dr. Hartmut Thamke, the team doctor.

Over the weekend, Dimitar Rangelov consulted with specialists in his native country of Bulgaria.

"Absence hits us hard"

"The absence of Dimitar Rangelov hits us hard", said manager Steffen Heidrich, adding, "at the end of the first leg he established himself as a major player on this team and his presence was convincing during the winter break preparations."

Dimitar Rangelov is currently on loan from the French top league club Racing Straßburg. FC Energie Cottbus have the option to acquire the player until April 2008.

[Trim]

Bundesliga, Matchday 19 | PREVIEW
VfL Bochum - FC Energie Cottbus

Bochum stunned Werder with a 2-1 away win in the previous week.

"We all want to continue what we have started in Bremen. We want to act more offensive. Our aim is to control the match. We have to be cautious not to become victims of counter attacks", VfL coach Marcel Koller declared.

Energie are still waiting for their first away win of the season and have lost 3-2 against Leverkusen last week.

"We played convincingly last week and scored. We have that in mind and go for goal in Bochum", Energie coach Bojan Prasnikar said.

[Trim]

Bochum 3 - 3 Energie Cottbus

7' [1 - 0] K. Ipsa (o.g.)
42' [2 - 0] S. Sestak
45' [2 - 1] M. Papadopoulos
68' [3 - 1] B. Auer
69' [3 - 2] E. Skela
79' [3 - 3] B. Jelic

VfL Bochum 3 Energie Cottbus 3

Bochum and Cottbus shared six goals in an exciting game at the Rewirpower Stadium.

Good early pressure from the home side paid off after just seven minutes with the opening goal of the game. A corner from Azaough flew into the Cottbus area where Yahia rose the highest. Defender Ipsa tried to block the header but deflected it into his own net for an unfortunate own goal.

In a hard fought game Bochum then doubled their lead three minutes before half time when Stanislav Sestak robbed Mitreski of the ball on the edge of the box, before side stepping Ipsa and firing the ball in.

Cottbus didn’t allow their heads to drop and got a goal of their own right on the whistle for half time. A mis-placed pass in midfield was picked up by Angelov, who fed Papadopoulos. The Greek signing from Leverkusen steered the ball past Lastuvka from a one-on-one situation.

On 68 minutes Benjamin Auer scored his second in two games to restore Bochum’s two-goal lead. A well worked free kick saw Azaough flick the ball on at the near post for Auer to stab home from on the goal line.

A minute later however Cottbus grabbed their second goal following a terrible mistake from the Bochum keeper when he collided with Maltritz allowing Skela an easy chance to make it 3-2.

Energie then completed their fightback on 79 with Jelic grabbing the equaliser following a top assist from Angelov.

[Trim]

Bochum v Cottbus - Goals:

TalkSoccer Media Player

[Trim]

Merkel visits Cottbus

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be the guest of honour at Energie Cottbus on Saturday, when the relegation-threatened club host Borussia Dortmund.

Merkel, who accepted a proposal to become an honorary member at Cottbus in November 2006, will be officially welcomed in a short on-pitch ceremony before the match, Cottbus said.

She will be especially satisfied if she sees them win Saturday's game. Her predecessor as Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, is an honorary member of Borussia Dortmund.

***

[Trim]

Bundesliga, Matchday 20 | PREVIEW
Energie Cottbus – Borussia Dortmund

A home win for Cottbus could see them climb out of the bottom three, but that will be no easy task against a Dortmund side looking to arrest poor run of form, which has seen them drop to 13th in the table.

Cottbus returned from the winter break and were unluckt to lose against Bayer Leverkusen and then drew last week against Bochum. There have been 11 goals in their previous two league matches so expect goals against BVB on Saturday. Bojan Prasnikar still has the same absentees (Kukielka and Rangelov injured, da Silva banned) so is likely to settle for the same starting XI as last weekend.

Thomas Doll will de demanding a performance from his team following their capitulation in the Revier derby last weekend at home to Schalke. Inconsistency has been Dortmund’s main problem of late with four wins, four defeats and three draws in their last ten Bundesliga outings.

Doll does have selection worries though with Dede suspended after his red card last week. Florian Kringe is the most likely replacement at left back. Pole Blaszczykowski is still short of his return. Loan signing from Bayern Mats Hummels could also be set for a starting berth.

[Trim]

Energie Cottbus 0 - 2 Borussia Dortmund

8' [0 - 1] M. Petric
84' [0 - 2] M. Petric

Energie Cottbus 0 Borussia Dortmund 2

Dortmund overcame Cottbus 2-0 to hand Thomas Doll the right tonic after their Revier derby defeat last weekend.

A super counter-attack from Dortmund after eight minutes handed them the lead. A long pass from defence found Federico, who’s through pass then found Petric. From 15 meters, the Croat thundered the ball into the back of the net.

The game was finely poised until five minutes from time when a second goal from Mladen Petric sealed the three points for Thomas Doll’s side.

Keeper Tremmel misjudged a corner from Frei and Petric came in at the far post unmarked to head into the empty net with a last ditch attempt to save the danger failing from Ziebig.

[Trim]

Bundesliga, Matchday 21 | PREVIEW
1. FC Nürnberg - Energie Cottbus

Nürnberg go into the game as the only German side to be knocked out of Europe in midweek, going out on a late goal to Benfica.

Energie have not won away all season, and home coach Thomas von Heesen is under pressure to produce. "Things have got to kick-off against Cottbus. Von Heesen's performance is under scrutiny from this point on", said Nürnberg president Michael A. Roth, describing the game as a "mini final".

Von Heesen said of Sunday's opponents, "Energie are awkward to play against, they're a compact, physical team, who counter well out of a strong defence. We'll need to be patient and match them with aggressive forechecking. We can't allow them the space to open up."

Ivan Saenko (suspended), Zvjezdan Misimovic (torn ligament), Marek Mintal (strained ligament) und Leon Benko (knee injury) are all unavailable for Nürnberg, along with Robert Vittek.

Cottbus have only lost twice to Nürnberg, and on each occasion the game was played in February.

The only top-flight team without an away win this season, they have however lost only one of five games on the road under Bojan Prasnikar.

The coach has his tactical stall set out for the vist to the "Club": "We need to stay compact, improve our tackling, chase down the ball and take a direct route on goal." Stiven Rivic still has the flu and will not be available for Energie.