MSV Duisburg will host Rot-Weiss Essen for a top third division match on Sunday, October 26, at 7:30 p.m. The Zebras are looking to put the past behind them.

When MSV Duisburg and Rot-Weiss Essen meet on Sunday, October 26, at 7:30 p.m., it will once again be a decisive match. Will the Zebras win and pull eight points ahead of RWE? Or will Essen win and close the gap to two points behind Duisburg, who may then no longer be at the top of the table?

After their recent 1-3 defeat against TSV 1860 Munich, MSV could certainly have picked a worse time to beat RWE. Not only because the Zebras could then immediately redeem themselves for their first defeat of the season, but also because they have been waiting for a victory against their Ruhrpott neighbors for over eight years now. The most recent Lower Rhine Cup final, which MSV lost 1-2 to Rot-Weiss Essen, is the latest proof of this. There will be no repeat this season, as RWE are already out after losing 3-2 to Rot-Weiß Oberhausen. MSV Duisburg are still in the running after a 3-1 win at KFC Uerdingen.

Will it go as far as it did in May 2017? Duisburg are now, of course, favorites to win the Lower Rhine Cup. On May 25, 2017, MSV were guests at the Hafenstraße stadium and played RWE in the final for the Lower Rhine Cup and a ticket to the DFB Cup.

In the end, it was Simon Brandstetter and captain Kevin Wolze who secured a 2-0 victory for the third division team against the regional league team. It was MSV’s last victory against RWE to date.

This fourth competitive victory in a row against RWE was followed by two draws and three defeats in a row. MSV Duisburg has not won against Rot-Weiss Essen in five competitive games.

Now, from the Zebra’s point of view, the omens are better than they have been for a long time. Gone are the days when MSV traveled to Hafenstraße as the designated relegation candidate and lost 1-4. On Sunday, there is a top match that the whole Ruhr region can look forward to.