: Red-White Essen must deliver against Viktoria Cologne if RWE is to avoid the risk of slipping into a relegation place again. Essen wants to get the three points with this team.
The last game in the 3rd division before the next international break is for Red-White Essen. At home against Viktoria Cologne, the pressure is already greater for the team of coach Christoph Dabrowski.
If RWE do not win this game either, they could find themselves in the relegation zone after the weekend. And that would not be a good basis before the general meeting on October 13. 15,000 to 16,000 spectators are expected in Essen, including almost 200 Viktoria fans.
With Kelsey Owusu (hamstring strain), Thomas Eisfeld (torn adductor muscle), Robbie D’Haese (strain), Ekin Celebi and Moussa Doumbouya, five players are out again, so the squad is lining up by itself.
With the 90 minutes in mind, Dabrowski had suggested that there could be changes in the starting lineup, that the players who had been a little behind recently would show themselves hungry and train well.
In the end, the ex-professional promoted two new players to the starting lineup against Viktoria Cologne. Tobias Kraulich is playing for José-Enrique Rios Alonso. And Dion Berisha is starting for Joseph Boyamba.
Dabrowski had this to say before the game about the upheaval at the opponent’s club and the 90 minutes: “Even with Viktoria, you didn’t really know where the journey was headed this season. They got off to a great start. Olaf is a great coach who has been there for a long time. He has formed a team that also chooses a playful approach. Our focus is always on the next game. And of course it would do us good to win the game at home; for our morale, for our future prospects – and we’ll try our best to achieve that.”
RWE and Viktoria Cologne line-up
RWE: Golz – Eitschberger, Schultz, Kraulich, Brumme – Müsel, Kaparos – Berisha, Arslan, Safi – Wintzheimer
Viktoria Cologne: Dudu – Sticker, Greger, Dietz, May – Henning, Lofolomo – Vrenezi, S. El Mala, Handle – Lobinger
Referee: Florian Heft