Matchday 15: Cellar duel in Mainz, Saarbrücken want to extend their lead in the table

TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell's three-match winning streak came to an end with a 3-0 defeat against Saarbrücken on the last matchday. Their direct pursuers from Mainz were also beaten 2:3 by Grenzau. Now the last two teams in the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) will meet. Meanwhile, on the other side of the table, Saarbrücken could extend its lead over Düsseldorf. Preview of the 15th matchday.

1.FC Saarbrücken-TT - TSV Bad Königshofen

With a record of 20:4 points, the team from Saarland currently resides in first place in the TTBL. They have benefited in particular from the defeats of permanent rivals Borussia Düsseldorf against Fulda, Bergneustadt and in December against Saarbrücken. Now the team wants to extend its lead when it takes on TSV Bad Königshofen on Friday at 7 pm. TSV have had a strong few weeks and are unbeaten in the second half of the season so far. The team recently picked up points against Ochsenhausen, Grünwettersbach and Bremen. The last meeting between the two current rivals in the league was some time ago. At the beginning of September, Saarbrücken traveled to Lower Franconia - where they recorded a 3:1 victory. The matchday opener on Friday will show who comes out on top this time.

Borussia Düsseldorf - Post SV Mühlhausen

At the same time, Post SV Mühlhausen travels to the somewhat shaken Borussia from Düsseldorf. The record champions are still without a league win in the second half of the season. Following their triumph in the cup final at the beginning of January, Timo Boll's team were beaten 3:1 by TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell on January 28. Last Sunday, they suffered a narrow defeat against Bergneustadt. For this reason, Borussia wants to mobilize its strength in order not to miss the connection to the top of the table. Their opponents from Mühlhausen, on the other hand, recorded their first win of the second half of the season against SV Werder Bremen on the last matchday. Irvin Bertrand in particular proved to be the match-winner in the 3-2 victory, winning the singles and the final doubles. The match starts on Friday at 7 pm.

1.FSV Mainz 05 - TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell

Meanwhile, one of the most anticipated matches of the second half of the season will take place in Mainz when FSV hosts TTC Fulda. After a long dry spell in the previous round, both teams have improved in recent weeks and now have three wins under their belts. The teams are currently tied on points in tenth and eleventh place. Both also had to concede a game in the second half of the season for the first time last weekend. Fulda lost to Saarbrücken, while Mainz had to concede in Grenzau. The game between the two direct rivals can therefore be confidently described as the first signpost in the relegation battle. Meanwhile, it has not been long since the teams last met: Shortly before Christmas, the team from Fulda won the game 3:1. However, nothing can be deduced from this for the rematch, as the cards have long since been reshuffled.

ASV Grünwettersbach - TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt

Times are not easy for ASV Grünwettersbach at the moment. In addition to the current struggle for funding, the lead over the bottom of the table has shrunk further and further in recent weeks. The team from Karlsruhe are now just one point ahead of their opponents from Mainz and Fulda, so a win is needed. However, the visitors from Bergneustadt certainly do not want to make it easy for them. The team will emerge stronger from the 3:2 win against Düsseldorf last weekend. Nevertheless, Bergneustadt also need points. Although the team currently resides in fourth place in the league, Mühlhausen and Grenzau are breathing down their necks with the same number of points. In the previous round, Grünwettersbach narrowly came out on top 3:2 at the end of September. The match will be played on Saturday at 7 pm.

TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen - SV Werder Bremen

The match between TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen and SV Werder Bremen on Sunday at 1 p.m. rounds off a compact matchday. After two recent defeats against Bad Königshofen and Mainz, the hosts from Ochsenhausen are looking to move up from seventh place, as the situation in the middle of the TTBL table is currently extremely tight. Last but not least, the Bremen team is one place behind them with the same number of points. The team from the Hanseatic city was beaten 2:3 by Post SV Mühlhausen on the last matchday after leading 2:1 at one stage. Prior to that, they had already suffered two defeats against Grenzau and Bad Königshofen. The desire for the first win of the second half of the season is therefore high in Bremen. Sunday in Ochsenhausen will show who will come out on top.

Overview of the 15th matchday

Friday, 9th February 2024
7 p.m.: 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT - TSV Bad Königshofen
7 p.m.: Borussia Düsseldorf - Post SV Mühlhausen

Samstag, 10th February 2024
7 p.m.: 1. FSV Mainz 05 - TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell
7 p.m.: ASV Grünwettersbach - TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt

Sonntag, 11th February 2024
1 p.m.: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen - SV Werder Bremen

All games will be broadcast live on Dyn.

Text: Julian Hörndlein
Picture above: Patrick Franziska from 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT (Photo: Ulrich Höfer)