On the last matchday of the Women’s Bundesliga, it’s all about staying in the league for the women of MSV Duisburg. The focus is on their own game, but they are also looking to Frankfurt.

The MSV Duisburg women’s team is in tenth place in the Women’s Bundesliga ahead of the last matchday of the 2022/2023 season. With a one-point lead over the first relegation place, which is held by SV Meppen, the Duisburg women’s team has the chance to stay in the league.

Next Sunday (28 May, 2 p.m.), MSV will face TSG Hoffenheim, currently in fourth place, in their last home match of the season. There is nothing at stake for the women from Sinsheim, but MSV coach Thomas Gerstner is not expecting a relaxed Hoffenheim.

“I expect, as with all teams, that the opponent wants to score with us and that Hoffenheim wants to and will show their best possible performance,” said Gerstner. “For me, there is no ‘it’s all about nothing for them’. It’s always about three points and I expect a normal Bundesliga season finale,” added the 56-year-old former professional.

At the same time, SV Meppen have to play away at third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. Gerstner only has eyes for his team’s game, but the match in Frankfurt is of course not uninteresting. “I will only focus on our game, but we have the mobiles on board and will logically find out about the score in Frankfurt so that we can then possibly react,” says the ex-Wolfsburg professional about the rival’s parallel game.

“We would have definitely signed it five, six weeks ago to be above the line on the last matchday and also to be one point ahead of the first relegation place.”

Thomas Gerstner

The attitude is certainly right with Gerstner and the club. The word “relegation battle” is not in the 56-year-old’s vocabulary despite the situation. “We are in a fight to stay in the league. We always put it that way here, because the other word with the “A” is negatively loaded. That’s just how we tick here.” Clear words from Gerstner.

The one-point lead over Meppen and the fact that the Duisburg women have it in their own hands make Gerstner very confident. “The confidence is very high, because five or six weeks ago nobody thought we could do it. That’s when the coaching change took place,” says Gerstner, who has been coach of the MSV women since April 2023.

“Five or six weeks ago, we would have definitely signed off on being above the line on the last matchday and also still being one point ahead of the first relegation spot,” Gerstner looks back. “We’re super optimistic, knowing full well what opponent we’re up against. “