Rot-Weiss Essen will host SV Waldhof Mannheim on Sunday. The signs couldn’t be more different ahead of the game.

Rot-Weiss Essen, a relegation candidate before the season, face SV Waldhof Mannheim on Sunday, a promotion contender for some before the start.

However, the reality after 14 matchdays in the 3rd division looks completely different – almost the other way around. RWE are third with 24 points and Waldhof are 16th with 13 points – Essen are in the promotion relegation zone for Bundesliga 2, while Mannheim are relegated.

However, Essen coach Christoph Dabrowski, who can draw on a full squad apart from Fabian Rüth (in rehab), Ekin Celebi and Thomas Eisfeld (both in recovery training on the pitch), warned – despite four wins in a row recently: “I’m not saying anything new when I say that a third division game is not easy. Mannheim are definitely better than their position in the table suggests. SV Waldhof started the season with great ambitions. They also have a good team. They have a good transition game. They are an opponent who will be a real challenge for us. But, of course, with the self-confidence of the last few weeks, we want to get the next win at Hafenstrasse.”

Meanwhile, the Kurpfalz side have been waiting six matches for a third league win. Coach Rüdiger Rehm is already fighting for his job and cannot afford to lose in Essen

I’ve known Isaiah for a very long time, actually since the U15s at Hannover. He was always part of the academy. I’ve followed his path for years. He’s a player with a lot of dynamism and straightforwardness. Jesaja Herrmann has a lot of potential

Christoph Dabrowski on Isaiah Herrmann

Jesaja Herrmann is a beacon of hope for the team from Baden-Württemberg. The 23-year-old, who is SVW’s top scorer with three goals and two assists along with Kelvin Asare (one goal, four assists), almost ended up in Essen before the season. According to information from Forecasting, Herrmann was in talks at Hafenstrasse. These are said to have gone very well. However, according to our information, RWE hesitated too long, with the result that the former German junior international signed for Mannheim.

Dabrowski did not want to confirm that RWE were interested in Herrmann, but said: “I’ve known Isaiah for a very long time, actually since the U15s at Hannover. He was always part of the academy. I’ve followed his progress for years. He is a player with a lot of dynamism and straightforwardness. Jesaja Herrmann has a lot of potential.”

But things are going well at RWE even without Herrmann. That’s why Dabrowski is naturally confident about Sunday. “Our team has enough solutions at hand to beat Mannheim and celebrate the next win with our fans. That’s our clear goal for Sunday,” emphasizes Dabrowski.