Bundesliga News

3. Liga Preview and Predictions: Spieltag 16

By Jamie Allen

It's time to look forward to another weekend of Dritte Liga action!
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Photo: DFB
With the final international break behind us, it’s back to regular 3. Liga action (for another four months anyway). As most teams get ready to play their 16th league match, the table is still a close-run affair. It’s hard to believe but 16th place 1860 München have lost fewer games than table-toppers, Magdeburg! What’s more, just four points separate Zwickau in 12th and Meppen in 3rd. With plenty still to play for, let’s look ahead to the next round of fixtures in Germany’s third division.


SC Verl vs Saarbrücken (Friday)

Our first game of the weekend sees 17th place Verl host Saarbrücken who sit in 9th position. Verl have gone three league games without a win and will need to stop the rot sooner rather than later. This dip in form has seen them drop into the relegation zone for the first time this season. If they’re not careful, they’ll be stuck in a dog fight down the bottom. Saarbrücken also come into this one with no win in three Dritte Liga matches. Despite this, they are still just three points off third. This could be quite a cagey affair but I still expect the away side to prevail in this one.

(SC Verl 1 - 2 Saarbrücken)

1860 München vs MSV Duisburg (Saturday)

It’s 16th vs 18th in what can only be described as a real six-pointer! Despite their current league position, 1860 have only lost three times in the league this season. Their Achilles Heel is their draw record that dwarfs most teams in the division. However, since their win in the DFB Pokal over Schalke, Sechzig have beaten Freiburg II 6-0 before narrowly losing to a decent Osnabrück outfit. With the home advantage and players such as Lex in great form, the Bavarians will half be expecting to win this tie. MSV Duisburg went into the break with a much-needed win themselves as they beat Viktoria Berlin 1:0. This would have certainly given their fans and new head coach, Hagen Schmidt, something to smile about. There is still plenty of work to be done of course but things seem to be improving slightly at the MSV Arena. I think Duisburg will be happy with a draw here and we all know how much Sechzig loves a draw….


(1860 München 1 - 1 MSV Duisburg)

Hallescher vs Borussia Dortmund II

Hallesher and Dortmund II are separated by one point respectively. Both have struggled for form recently and have therefore slipped into that precarious no-mans-land position in the table. Dortmund II, for example, have lost their last four matches on the bounce. A few weeks back, they were flying high around the top three but any chance of getting back up there is fading away week by week. Going into this one, their main focus will be to stop their losing streak and just get something out of the game. Halle, on the other hand, lost to bottom of the table last time out and will want to bounce back in fashion. It’s going to be a close call but I fancy the team from the east in this one.

(Hallescher 2-1 Borussia Dortmund II)

SC Freiburg II vs TSV Havelse

With two wins in their last three matches, Freiburg II have given a boost to their survival hopes. Their last win against Waldhof was sealed by an outstanding 50-metre effort by Dutch Stiker, Vincent Vermeij (a goal I encourage everyone to go back and visit). Their opponents have only recorded one win in their last six league encounters and are a staggering seven points adrift of safety. If they’re not careful, they could be doomed by January. I think the home side will have too much for Havelse. For me, Freiburg II will gather another crucial three points in this one.

(SC Freiburg II 2 - 1 TSV Havelse)

Eintracht Braunschweig vs Türkgücü München

Braunschweig have only lost once in their last five league games and are sitting pretty in 4th. What’s more, they have a game in hand on the teams around them and could possibly go into the top three should they win that fixture. The Eintracht Stadion can be a lively and intimidating atmosphere to go play in. I’m sure the fans will be in good voice and expect another three points in this one. Türkgücü have been in freefall recently, having slipped down to 15th. Just two points clear of safety, their season seems to be taking a very bad turn. With no win in their last three and now having to go to an in-form Braunschweig side, their winless streak may just continue.

(Eintracht Braunschweig 3 - 0 Türkgücü München)

FC Kaiserslautern vs SV Wehen Wiesbaden

Separated by just goal difference, it’s 6th vs 7th respectively in this one. Despite a slow start, FCK keep picking up points and impressive victories which has seen them looking up rather than down. Last time out, they beat their local rivals 0:2 in their own backyard. Wiesbaden themselves have also picked up great wins against the likes of Braunschweig but also have it in them to lose to teams they ought to be beating. With a new manager at the helm, we could see a different Wiesbaden in comparison to different weeks. However, with the home advantage and Kaiserslautern’s decent goal difference, I expect them to win this one.

(FC Kaiserslautern 3 - 1 SV Wehen Wiesbaden)

Viktoria Berlin vs Würzburger Kickers (Sunday)

Having started the season in fantastic fashion, the Berlin Zug has slowly but surely ground to a halt. Now in 8th position, the Berliners have won just once in their last four league games. Having said that, If you would have offered them a top table finish before a ball was kicked, I’m sure they would have snatched at the chance. There is still plenty of football to be played but I can’t see Berlin slipping near the relegation places. And it’s these relegation places where we find Berlin’s opponents. Having won their last two games, Würzburger have breathed new life into their survival campaign. Despite this, they still sit in 19th albeit with a game in hand. The Kickers will be full of confidence but also wary of how good the home side can be when they want to. For me, I can see Berlin filling their Lokomotiv’s with coal and setting off on their exciting league campaign once more! (I’m not sure why I always use train analogies when it comes to Viktoria Berlin but I’m going to roll with it for now)

(Viktoria Berlin 3 - 2 Würzburger Kickers)

Waldhof Mannheim vs VfL Osnabrück

These are two teams that have impressed in recent weeks and therefore sit 5th and 2nd respectively. Waldhoff did suffer a surprise loss to Freiburg II in their last league match but that doesn’t take away how well they’ve done up to this point. What’s more, with a game in hand over their opponents, they’ll be in a great position to leapfrog them in the table should they achieve victory. Osnabrück have lost just once in their last five Dritte Liga games. If they’re to accomplish anything this year, it’s these types of games that they will have to win, especially away from home. With an identical goal difference, this could be a thrilling but close encounter.

(Waldhof Mannheim 2 - 2 VfL Osnabrück)

SV Meppen vs Viktoria Köln (Monday)

Meppen have been on a fantastic run lately which has seen them jump all the way into 3rd. Having won five out of their last seven matches, Meppen’s recent form has been nothing short of remarkable. Not many, including myself, would have put them in this position after 15 games. Likewise, Viktoria Köln have been on a great run themselves. With three wins and a draw in the previous four league games, V.Köln have moved out of the relegation zone and into 13th. However, they are without two of their main strike partners Marcel Risse and Seokju Hong this weekend. Factoring this in and with Meppen with the home advantage, I think V.Köln’s unbeaten record might end here.

(SV Meppen 2 - 1 Viktoria Köln)

There are nine great games to look forward to this weekend at both ends of the 3. Liga table. Week after week, Germany’s third division seems to throw up more surprises than Italy’s World Cup qualifying campaign! It’s also worth noting that Zwickau’s match against Magdeburg on Saturday has been postponed due to a covid outbreak in the away team’s camp. Hopefully, this doesn’t become a regular occurrence and all players, staff, and fans stay healthy and in good spirits.

Here’s to regular football being back and to you enjoying your jam-packed German football weekend!


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