Before the basement duel – MSV can climb two places against Meppen

For the women of MSV Duisburg, it’s probably the most important game of the relegation battle in the 1. Bundesliga on Sunday. They face SV Meppen, a direct competitor.

The match between the women’s teams of MSV Duisburg and SV Meppen on Matchday 19 of the 1st Women’s Bundesliga (Sunday, 07 May, 4 p.m.) more than deserves to be called a “basement duel”.

The Duisburg team is currently in eleventh place in the table, which would mean relegation. MSV would be safe in tenth place, but that is occupied by SV Meppen, who have so far collected one point more than the women from Meiderich. So a win is a must for MSV.

With four games to go, everything is still open in the relegation battle. 1. FC Köln is also still in danger. The ninth-placed team is only two points ahead of Duisburg and one point ahead of Meppen. Because Cologne plays second-placed VfL Wolfsburg this weekend, the Zebras could move up two places if they beat Meppen. That makes the three points even more important for MSV.

The Duisburg women are encouraged by the poor form of SVM, who have not won since December. The first leg, in which the Zebras won 1-0, can also give the MSV women hope. On the other hand, the weak offensive of the Duisburg women could be a problem. Although the women from Meppen have scored just as many goals as MSV (12), they have only conceded 28. In comparison, MSV has the worst defence in the league with 45 goals conceded.

Thomas Gerstner, who took over as head coach of the MSV women in April, knows what lies ahead for him and his team. “With a win, we can overtake Meppen. But of course Meppen also know this constellation and have the same goals as we do. The opponent will demand everything from us. We have to make sure that we demand everything from them and score one goal more in the end,” said the 56-year-old on the MSV homepage.

So the relegation battle in the 1st Women’s Bundesliga remains exciting. The match between 1. FC Köln and SV Meppen on matchday 20 may also change the relegation battle. But one thing remains certain: The MSV women must deliver if they still want to play in the 1st Bundesliga next season.