2. Bundesliga Topspiel Preview: 1. FC Kaiserslautern vs. Karlsruher SC
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Südwestderby (Southwest Derby) will be one of the standout fixtures of matchday 2 in 2. Bundesliga as Kaiserslautern target their third successive win over neighbours Karlsruhe. However, it was the visitors who started the campaign with three points when the league started last week.
Karlsruhe’s coach Maximilian Senft had a dream start with new signing Moritz Broschinski scoring a brace in the 2-1 win over Arminia Bielefeld. Meanwhile, Kaiserslautern produced a solid performance in their goalless draw away at promotion candidates Wolfsburg.
Torsten Lieberknecht’s side completed a dream transfer this week as they signed Irish international Alex Murphy on loan from the Premier League side Newcastle United. The Reds are hoping to compete for promotion after their respectable sixth-placed finish last term.
Kaiserslautern have a great record in the derby as Karlsruhe’s last win came during the 2023/24 season with a memorable 4-0 victory at Fritz-Walter-Stadion. Since then, KSC have only picked up a single point in this fixture.
Kaiserslautern scored three goals in three of the last four encounters, including doing the double last season. Semih Sahin, Mergim Berisha and Mahir Emreli scored the goals in the 3-0 victory at Fritz-Walter-Stadion in their recent meeting in March.
Team News
Murphy will hope to make his debut in front of home fans, while fellow full-back Paul Joly will return from suspension. Croat striker Ivan Prtajin remains on the sidelines with an ACL injury. Karlsruhe have no injury worries ahead of Saturday’s derby clash.
Predicted Lineups
Kaiserslautern: Krahl; Elvedi, Gyamfi, Rasmussen; Asta, Kunze, Sahin, Haas; Skyttä, Ritter ©; Berisha
Karlsruhe: Bernat; Young, Kobald, Franke, Ofli; Pinto Pedrosa, Zor, Wanitzek ©, Egloff; Eichinger, Broschinski
