3. Liga: Matchday 38 Preview
Welcome to this final matchday relegation special
| Photo: DFB |
All games kick off on Saturday at 12:30 pm, GMT.
Let’s start with the two teams who are fighting for survival:
SC Verl vs MSV Duisburg
Verl are so close to producing the great escape. Going into the last four games, they needed to win pretty much everyone. So far, they’ve won three-out-of-three with the last game this weekend. A month ago, Verl looked like they would be relegated. However, head coach Michél Kniat has got his team back to winning ways when it mattered most. It’s still in their own hands, with a win or a draw being enough to see them survive. Well, if they do draw then Viktoria Berlin would have to win by 7 clear goals! It should be some atmosphere at Paderborn’s Benteler Arena with a good turnout from the away side too. Duisburg secured safety last weekend which possibly helps Verl due to the fact that Die Zebras aren’t playing for anything. I think Verl will get something from this one, sorry Viktoria Berlin fans!
(Prediction: SC Verl 1:1 MSV Duisburg)
Viktoria Berlin vs SV Meppen
It’s out of Berlin’s control. They must win and hope that Duisburg can do them a favour by winning in Paderborn. Berlin have somehow managed to survive until the last day thanks to a 90th-minute winner against Saarbrücken last time out. But where did it all go wrong for Berlin? At the beginning of the season, they were the front-runners only losing one of their opening 8 matches! At Christmas time, the newcomers to the league had fallen off slightly, as you’d expect, and were in a reasonable mid-table position. Since the turn of the year, they haven’t been at the races at all. In fact, their first league win in 2022 came in April against now league champions Magdeburg! Berlin host Meppen tomorrow who aren’t playing for anything. Meppen themselves have been on a very poor run recently despite beating promoted side Braunschweig in their last matchday. I have a feeling Berlin will win and they’ll be looking for a huge favour from MSV.
(Prediction: Viktoria Berlin 2:1 SV Meppen)
Remaining fixtures:
1860 München vs Borussia Dortmund II
FSV Zwickau vs Würzburger Kickers
SV Waldhof Mannheim vs TSV Havelse
Eintracht Braunschweig vs Viktoria Köln
VfL Osnabrück vs FC Magdeburg
Freiburg II vs FC Saarbrücken
FC Hallescher vs Wehen Wiesbaden