Rot-Weiss Essen have their sights set on third place in the 3rd division. The club should then play relegation. When the games are depends on the opponent.
The battle for third place in the 3rd division promises to be exciting right up to the last matchday. Preußen Münster currently occupy the position that entitles them to take part in the relegation play-off.
However, Dynamo Dresden, Rot-Weiss Essen and 1. FC Saarbrücken are also likely to have hopes of facing the sixteenth-placed team in Bundesliga 2 in the near future. SSV Ulm 1846, the league leaders, are close to promotion and Jahn Regensburg, in second place, also have a good chance.
Preußen Münster were the winners of the catch-up match, although the team was not even on the pitch. Saarbrücken and Essen drew 1:1 (0:1) and thus failed to increase the pressure. Nevertheless, those responsible must keep an eye on the relegation dates. Flexibility is required
The first leg will take place at the stadium of the third-placed team in the third division – on Friday, May 24. Kick-off is at 8.45 pm. The second leg will kick off at the same time. On Tuesday, May 28, the second division team will be the hosts.
1. FC Kaiserslautern can influence the schedule
However, the plan does not apply if 1. FC Kaiserslautern participates in the relegation play-off. The Palatinate team is in the DFB Cup final. On May 25, they will face German champions Bayer Leverkusen for the title in Berlin
The German Football League has a plan B to ensure that the Red Devils do not run into scheduling difficulties in the event of relegation. There are two alternative dates: The first leg would then take place on Wednesday, May 22, with a possible second leg at Betzenberg on Wednesday, May 29.
At the moment, coach Friedhelm Funkel’s team is in 17th place and should therefore still be climbing up the table. And for the affected teams from the third division – such as Rot-Weiss Essen – the match dates will be of secondary importance for the time being. For the club from the Ruhr region, the first priority is to attack third place and secure a place in the relegation play-offs