SV Lippstadt face a crucial basement clash on matchday 28. SVL will travel to Borussia Mönchengladbach U23, with both teams level on points.

SV Lippstadt are in the midst of a relegation battle in the Regionalliga West. After a miserable run of eleven consecutive games without a win, SVL have recently managed to free themselves from their results crisis and have won four of their last six matches.

Even the unfortunate 1-0 defeat to Wuppertaler SV on the previous matchday did nothing to dampen the mood, as Lippstadt coach Felix Bechtold explains: “The boys took March so well and scored points that we’re back in business. It doesn’t change the fact that we lost narrowly against a big favorite, where we looked very good for 89 minutes and could have won the game.”

In the days that followed, the defeat was quickly put behind them. “The result was more unfortunate than depressing. That’s why it didn’t affect the boys at all or bother them too much; we concentrated and focused on preparing for the next task, just like in the weeks before,” reported the SVL coach. The focus in the training week was on the important basement duel against Borussia Mönchengladbach’s U23s, who the Lippstadt team have to travel to on Saturday, April 6 (2 p.m.).

After the success of recent weeks, the 15th-placed team in the table will go into the match against the Foals, who are 14th on points. “We’ve built up our confidence and you can see that in the way we play. Nevertheless, it’s a hugely important game for both teams and a lot of things are important. If you just look at the names, it’s clear who the favorites are,” says Bechtold, who is the favorite.

I didn’t expect Gladbach to be playing for relegation. It’s a six-point game because of the table situation.

Felix Bechtold

“I didn’t expect Gladbach to be playing for relegation. It’s a six-point game due to the situation in the table. The situations of both teams are also comparable. Gladbach were at the top last season, we played a club-record season and our squad is set up like an U23.” In addition to their better form, the fact that Eugen Polanski’s side are the weakest home team in the league could play into SVL’s hands.

In addition to Lewin D’Hone (cruciate ligament rupture), Luis Allmeroth (lymph node cancer) and Lars Holtkamp (sinusitis), Lippstadt will probably also have to do without striker Gerrit Kaiser and midfielder Tim Zimpel, who have only been back in training since Thursday following a stomach bug.