Rot-Weiss Essen welcomes SV Waldhof Mannheim on Sunday. The signs ahead of the game couldn’t be more different.

Rot-Weiss Essen, considered a relegation candidate before the season, faces SV Waldhof Mannheim on Sunday, which many considered a promotion contender before the start of the season.

However, after 14 matchdays in the 3rd division, the reality is completely different – almost the opposite. RWE is third with 24 points and Waldhof is 16th with 13 points. Essen is in the promotion playoff spot for the 2nd Bundesliga, while Mannheim is in a relegation spot.

But Essen coach Christoph Dabrowski, who has a full squad to choose from except for Fabian Rüth (in rehab), Ekin Celebi, and Thomas Eisfeld (both in training on the pitch), is warning his team despite four wins in a row: “I’m not saying anything new when I emphasize that a third division game is not easy. Mannheim is definitely better than their position in the table suggests. SV Waldhof started the season with big ambitions. They also have a good team. They are good at switching play. They are an opponent who will really challenge us. But, of course, with the confidence we have gained in recent weeks, we want to secure our next victory at Hafenstraße.”

Meanwhile, the Kurpfälzer have been waiting for a third division victory for six games. Coach Rüdiger Rehm is already fighting for his job and cannot afford to slip up in Essen.

I’ve known Jesaja for a long time, actually since he was in the U15s at Hannover. He was always part of the academy. I’ve followed his career for years. He’s a player with a lot of dynamism and directness. Jesaja Herrmann has a lot of potential.

Christoph Dabrowski on Jesaja Herrmann

Jesaja Herrmann is a source of hope for the Baden-Württemberg side. The 23-year-old, who is the SVW’s top scorer with three goals and two assists alongside Kelvin Asare (one goal, four assists), almost ended up in Essen before the season. According to forecasts, Herrmann was in talks at Hafenstraße. These are said to have gone very well. However, according to our information, RWE hesitated too long, so the former German junior international signed for Mannheim.

Dabrowski did not want to confirm that RWE was interested in Herrmann, but said: “I’ve known Jesaja for a very long time, actually since he was in the U15s at Hannover. He was always part of the academy. I’ve followed his career for years. He’s a player with a lot of dynamism and straightforwardness. Jesaja Herrmann has a lot of potential.”

However, things are going well for RWE even without Herrmann. That’s why Dabrowski is naturally confident about Sunday. “Our team has enough solutions at its disposal to defeat Mannheim and celebrate another victory with our fans. That is our clear goal for Sunday,” Dabrowski emphasizes.