Relegation clash on a full Alm, more than 3000 MSV fans in attendance

On Easter Sunday, it’s all systems go in Bielefeld. Relegation battle against MSV Duisburg in front of over 20,000 fans. The result should encourage MSV.

Floodlights on for the basement clash in the 3rd division. At the end of the 31st matchday, it’s all systems go at the Bielefeld Alm on Easter Sunday (7:30 pm). Arminia will face MSV Duisburg.

The two traditional clubs are on the brink of relegation to the Regionalliga West, which would be the third relegation in a row for Bielefeld. In the first leg, Bielefeld won 1:0 in Duisburg thanks to a goal from Fabian Klos.

Now MSV want revenge, they have to score, otherwise Bielefeld would be seven points away and the relegation battle would be even more precarious for the Zebras. Because then there would only be five teams left, one of which could save itself

The games on Saturday will show whether a win in Bielefeld can even see the team leap into a non-relegation spot. If Halle FC lose in Regensburg and Mannheim fail to win at Borussia Dortmund’s U23s, Duisburg can make a big leap.

That must be motivation enough, especially as it will be really full on the Alm. As the club announced, over 20,000 tickets have already been sold since Wednesday. Some 3100 MSV supporters alone are traveling to Bielefeld.

The record speaks for MSV Duisburg

The third big crowd in a row for Arminia. Previously, 18,173 spectators attended the Westphalia Cup against Münster and 22,569 spectators attended the neighborhood duel against Verl.

Arminia won the only previous third division clash between the two traditional clubs in Bielefeld in the 2014/15 season 4:2 (1:2). This is the 48th duel between the two clubs. The record is even. Bielefeld won 14 times, the two sides shared the points 16 times and MSV won 17 encounters.

The situation in Bielefeld is similarly close. However, it is striking that Duisburg have won nine more games in Bielefeld than Arminia (7 wins). The last three competitive matches (two in the Bundesliga 2, one in the DFB Cup) in Bielefeld have all gone to the Meiderich side – without conceding a goal. MSV have won eight of the last ten duels on the Alm.