Third-division club MSV Duisburg play host to Erzgebirge Aue. What coach Boris Schommers expects from the match.

On Saturday afternoon (December 9, 4:30 p.m.), MSV Duisburg will visit Erzgebirge Aue. A good omen? Because the Zebras’ last visit to Aue ended successfully: MSV won 2:0 at the Erzgebirge Stadium on November 8, 2022. The Revierklub also won the second leg 3:0, meaning they did not concede a goal against their upcoming opponents last season.

However, the omens now look different. While Aue are playing a solid round with 26 points after 17 games and are seventh in the table, Duisburg are stuck deep in the basement. Despite their recent home win against VfB Lübeck (1:0), they are still five points away from the drop zone.

Coach Boris Schommers is expecting a complicated game in Aue: “They’ve always scored in the last three games and recently won at home against BVB II. I don’t think they are where they are for no good reason. It’s very difficult to play against them. Aue have a very clear plan. It will be a tough away task, but we’re very happy to accept it. We’re going there in the hope of getting something

Since Tuesday, three talents from the U19s – goalkeeper Fotios Adamidis, goalscorer Kaan Inanoglu and right-back Batuhan Yavuz – have had the chance to show themselves on the pitch and audition with the professionals. The focus was particularly on Inanoglu, who has already scored nine times in this U19 Bundesliga season

Kaan has really got stuck in during training and will certainly be up there again before the winter. Of course, it still makes a difference whether you’re facing an experienced third division central defender or a youth player, without diminishing that. We definitely won’t be taking him with us at the weekend.

Boris Schommers

However, he is not an option for the squad in Aue, as Schommers revealed: “I’ve now met the youngster in person. He was with us for three sessions and will be training normally with the U19s again from Thursday. He made a good first impression and was very motivated. Kaan really got stuck in during training and will certainly be up there again before the winter. Of course, there’s still a difference between facing an experienced third division central defender and a youth player, without diminishing that. We definitely won’t be taking him with us at the weekend. “