3. Liga Matchday 30 Preview
Your top three featured games along with all of the fixtures happening this weekend in Germany's third division.
There is just a handful of games remaining in this season’s 3. Liga. Where on earth does the time go? This campaign has had many twists, turns, ups, and downs. Including this weekend there are 9 rounds of matches to be played. During this time we will see many rivals battling it out as some aim for the 2. Bundesliga and others try so desperately to avoid the drop into the unforgiving Regionaliga. Here is everything you need to know ahead of matchday 30 in the 3. Liga.
FEATURED GAMES
Friday: Viktoria Berlin vs 1860 München (6pm GMT, Live on Youtube)
How Berlin could do with a win to kickstart the weekend’s action. At the beginning of the season, they were battering teams 4:0 and sitting pretty in the top two. However, since the start of 2022, Berlin have been in freefall. Hovering just outside the relegation zone, the Berliners are living dangerously. Though with one game in hand on most clubs around them where are Berlin going to get the goals from? They haven’t won in their previous 8 leagues games and only managed a 1:1 to fellow strugglers Havelse last time around. To make matters worse, Berlin host 1860 Munchen who have turned their season around. Now in 5th place, Die Löwen have given themselves an outsider's chance of promotion. Both teams have something to play for but I can’t see past an away win. This game can also be streamed for free via the DFB Football Youtube channel.
(Prediction: Viktoria Berlin 0:2 1860 München)
Saturday: Eintracht Braunschweig vs FC Saarbrücken (1pm GMT, Live on NDR)
This is a massive fixture in terms of the race for promotion. Coming into this one Braunschweig are in the driving seat in 3rd place and with a game in hand on their opponents as well as Kaiserslautern in 2nd. Braunschweig could take yet another massive step towards the top two if they get the better of Saarbrücken who sit in 4th position. For the away side, you feel it’s a do-or-die scenario. Fail to get the win and Braunschweig might be out of reach, especially with a game to spare. A draw keeps the race well and truly alive and might benefit Kaiserslautern in 2nd if they win their game. There could also be goals here. Braunschweig and Saarbrücken are the 2nd and 3rd top goalscorers in the league this season, respectively. There is a lot riding on this one and I for one can not wait!
(Prediction: Braunschweig 4:2 Saarbrücken)
Saturday: FC Kaiserslautern vs TSV Havelse (1pm GMT)
This result will have implications at both ends of the table. With Braunschweig and Saarbrücken doing battle in Lower Saxony, this could be a great opportunity for FCK to cement their second-place position. However, they face a Havelse side who have improved remarkably since the turn of the year and are no longer the whipping boys of the division. Don’t get me wrong, on paper this looks like an almost impossible task for Havelse to get a win away at the Fritz-Walter-Stadium. However, it’s during this point in the season that surprise results can happen. As Billy Ocean once said, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. If Havelse do go on to do the impossible, they could be just three points away from safety which is some achievement considering where they were at Christmas. If the away side get their game plan spot and get a bit of luck, you just never know….
but at the same time, it’s Kaiserslautern isn’t it?
(Prediction: Kaiserslautern 2:1 Havelse)
Remaining Fixtures
Saturday’s fixtures:
Verl (17th) vs Waldhof Mannheim (6th)
Türkgücü München (20th) vs FC Magdeburg (1st)
Viktoria Köln (13th) vs Wehen Wiesbaden (8th)
Hallescher FC vs Freiburg II is postponed due to covid cases
Sunday’s fixtures:
Zwickau (14th) vs Osnabrück (7th)
Würzburger Kickers (18th) vs Dortmund II (10th)
Monday's fixtures:
Meppen (11th) vs Duisburg (15th)