The bitter 1:4 (1:1) in the derby against Rot-Weiss Essen has worsened MSV Duisburg’s relegation worries. Others could be hit even harder.

With 29 points, MSV Duisburg are in third-last place in the 3rd division. They are eight points behind SV Waldhof Mannheim, who occupy the first non-relegation place with 37 points.

The situation is precarious, and yet SC Freiburg II would certainly like to swap places with MSV. After all, the Breisgau club’s relegation could be sealed as early as the next matchday. MSV Duisburg and Rot-Weiss Essen could tip the scales.

If both lose their games, SCF II’s return to the Regionalliga could be certain. Prerequisite: Freiburg II does not win against Dynamo Dresden (Sunday, April 14, 7:30 p.m.).

Should that be the case and Duisburg lose against Waldhof Mannheim and Rot-Weiss Essen against Arminia Bielefeld (Sunday, April 14, 4:30 p.m.), then the Breisgau team could no longer reach the safety zone. Mannheim or Bielefeld would then occupy the first non-relegation place 16 with 40 points each. Freiburg II would have 23 points in the event of a defeat and 24 in the event of a draw. With 15 points still up for grabs, that’s a deficit that can no longer be made up

The following week, VfB Lübeck could be in the same position. Defeats against SpVgg Unterhaching and Borussia Dortmund II could leave them 16 points off the safety zone with four games to go – a deficit that cannot be made up.

Which in turn also applies to MSV Duisburg. Should the Zebras remain on 29 points with two more defeats, the gap could be just 14 points with four games to go, but that would be too much with twelve points still to play for. Relegation to the Regionalliga West would then be certain.

MSV will therefore once again be looking to take advantage of their final relegation match against Waldhof Mannheim on Friday, April 12 at 7 pm. Should the game against the Baden-Württemberg side be lost, the lights would probably go out for the Meiderichers for good