Rot-Weiss Essen hosts 1. FC Schweinfurt on Sunday. The third-division team, currently in last place, has two former Essen players and one current player on its roster.

Rot-Weiss Essen needs to calm down a bit. After all, following the derby against the former league leaders MSV Duisburg—who lost the top spot to FC Energie Cottbus after a 1-1 draw with RWE—the Bergeborbeck-based team will face the bottom team in the 3. Liga this coming weekend.

Duisburg and now 1. FC Schweinfurt: RWE’s 3. Liga matches within seven days couldn’t be more different. The red-and-white fanbase is expecting a must-win game and, ideally, a jump to third place after 13 matchdays.

The odds are actually quite good. Because with all due respect to newly promoted Schweinfurt: one win, eleven losses, 8-32 goals—the numbers don’t lie. The team from Lower Franconia is the worst in the league.

It was clear from the start that Coach Victor Kleinhenz’s team would be fighting to avoid relegation. After just a few matchdays and four opening losses, the club’s management realized they needed reinforcements.

Ekin Celebi was loaned from Rot-Weiss Essen until the end of the season. And lo and behold: On the left back’s debut, Schweinfurt won—their only victory so far this season—3–2 at FC Ingolstadt. Celebi did, however, receive an inglorious red card during the match—as reported by Forecasting.

The 25-year-old has now played in five matches, totaling 411 minutes for Schweinfurt. And that’s where things will stay for now. Celebi will not be playing against his current employer, Rot-Weiss Essen.

As this editorial team has learned, the loan agreement between Essen and Schweinfurt includes a clause stipulating a mid-five-figure sum to allow Celebi to play against RWE. Schweinfurt will not transfer this sum to Essen. Celebi will nevertheless travel to his former club, as he revealed to this editorial team.

Celebi, who played five games (scoring one goal) for Rot-Weiss Essen over two years, says: “I think it’s a real shame because I would have liked to test myself against my former teammates on the field. But I’m really looking forward to seeing the guys on Sunday in Essen.”

RWE Director of Professional Soccer Marcus Steegmann commented: “I do not comment publicly on contract details.”