1. FC Saarbrücken won its most recent home game against 1. FC Schweinfurt 05, but lost an important player for a long time.

1. FC Saarbrücken is the closest pursuer of the flawless league leader MSV Duisburg in the 3rd division. Coach Alois Schwartz’s team celebrated its fifth win of the season and fourth three-point haul in a row with a hard-fought 2-1 (2-0) victory over promoted side 1. FC Schweinfurt 05. Kai Brünker put Saarbrücken on the road to victory with a brace (22nd, 31st), his fourth and fifth goals of the season. This puts the 31-year-old just one goal behind his strike partner Florian Pick, who leads the league scoring charts. Lauris Bausenwein scored for the visitors (52nd minute) to make the game exciting again, but after Calogero Rizzuto was sent off (82nd minute) for a rough foul, FCS held on to their victory despite being a man down.

However, Rizzuto’s sending off will of course have consequences. The 33-year-old has been suspended for three games. This means he will initially miss the game at Wehen Wiesbaden on Saturday, September 27, at 2 p.m.

And then, in all likelihood, comes the top match. On Tuesday, September 30, at 7 p.m., the currently undefeated league leaders MSV Duisburg come to Saarland. Rizzuto will also be missing the following Saturday, October 4, at 2 p.m., at SSV Jahn Regensburg.

The 33-year-old is a regular in right midfield and has already scored once and provided two assists. Shortly after receiving his red card, Rizzuto posted on Instagram.

“The red card was obviously unnecessary and annoying! I’m probably more upset about this situation than you are! The points we’ve earned are much more important than personal issues. Now we have to keep working hard because we still have a long and difficult road ahead of us.”

The gap to MSV Duisburg is currently three points. While MSV has 19 points, Saarbrücken has 16.