SV Waldhof Mannheim faces a tough test on Friday evening at MSV Duisburg. That’s what Waldhof coach Luc Holtz said ahead of the match against the 3. Liga leader.

SV Waldhof Mannheim will visit 3. Liga leader MSV Duisburg on Friday evening (November 7, 7 p.m.). With four wins in their last six matches, coach Luc Holtz’s team has been in strong form recently.

However, Waldhof suffered an unfortunate 0–2 loss to TSG Hoffenheim’s reserve team last Sunday. The ninth-place team squandered numerous top-notch scoring chances and was unable to capitalize on its dominance.

At the press conference ahead of the away game in Duisburg, Waldhof coach Holtz reflected once again on his team’s most recent loss. “In terms of performance, we don’t need to do much better than we did last Sunday. We should definitely maintain the number of scoring chances we created. But this time, we have to convert those chances and work on our effectiveness,” said the Luxembourg native.

Now the league leaders await the team from the Kurpfalz region. “Of course, we’re really looking forward to the game. I think, as league leaders, they’ll come out with a lot of confidence and intensity. They’re very powerful, have good structure, and are strong in transition,“ Holtz said, praising MSV. But: ”We’re not going there to admit defeat; we want to put up a good fight,“ added the 56-year-old, who expects a ”beautiful stadium“ and a ”great atmosphere“ that ”motivates every soccer player.”

The Waldhof coach believes his team has a real chance against the league leader—who, however, has been waiting for a win for five games—citing the unpredictability of the 3. Liga as the main reason. “You can see that in this league, anyone can beat anyone,” Holtz said, citing Alemannia Aachen’s 2-0 victory over 1. FC Saarbrücken on the last matchday as an example. “Every game is hard-fought until the very last minute, and we’re not without a chance in Duisburg either.”

According to Holtz, to come away with points, the team needs to focus on its own strengths. “We’ve shown good stability in the last three games, even though we lost the most recent one. Now we’re facing a new opponent with a new system and new standout players. Of course, we’ll adapt accordingly. Nevertheless, we also have to play the way we’ve been working with the ball in recent weeks. I think the guys have really internalized that more and more now,” said the former Luxembourg national team coach.

The Mannheim team will have to do without Jascha Brandt, Kushtrim Asallari, Sascha Voelcke, Maximilian Thalhammer, and Janne Sietan—all of whom are injured—for the match in Duisburg. There’s also currently a question mark over whether Adama Diakhaby (knee problems) will play.