SSVg Velbert was defeated at home by Sportfreunde Lotte on Friday evening. Staying in the Regionalliga West is now a distant prospect.

One week ahead of the rest of the Regionalliga West, SSVg Velbert and Sportfreunde Lotte kicked off 2026 on Friday evening. The rescheduled match from the 18th matchday was on the agenda. For SSVg Velbert, this was one of their last chances to stay in the league. They failed to take advantage of it: Bogdan Komorowski’s team had a player sent off and lost 0-3 (0-1).

In the first half hour, the game was still evenly matched and played between the penalty areas. And that at a manageable level. One exception: a great attack by the hosts via Machtemes. But Golubytskij’s attempt was parried, before Hilger’s follow-up shot from close range hit Riemer in the face (25′).

After half an hour, Lotte grew stronger. Ritter only had to stick out his foot after a combination on the left, but the ball went wide (40′). Then things went from bad to worse for the home side: Remmo was shown a second yellow card for repeated foul play and had to leave the field (40′). The Sportfreunde converted their numerical advantage into a lead before the break: a cross slipped through to Stublla, who made it 1-0 (45′).

Shortly after the restart, the game was effectively decided: after a corner, there was danger in the penalty area and Klefisch finally put the ball in the net to make it 2-0 (49′).

Velbert didn’t have much to offer in the aftermath, while Lotte switched to management mode but remained dangerous. The 3-0 was the consequence: Addai scored after Stublla’s cross (68′). “Relegation” chants now rang out from the visitors’ block, which was attended by a good 20 fans. Velbert tried to rally again at the end, but had no chance with fewer players. The score remained 3-0, giving Lotte some breathing room above the relegation zone, while SSVg Velbert is gradually slipping out of it.