Matchday 7: Top game in Saarbrücken, Fulda hopes for first points
Before the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) goes into a five-week break, match day 7 starts on Friday. This will see a clash between TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell, who are still without points, and TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau. Three days later, the top match will be played at 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, who will host TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen.
TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell - TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau
TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell is the only team in the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) still without a point, and the East Hessians are slowly threatening to lose touch with the midfield. They are already four points behind ninth-placed TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau, which makes Friday evening's clash all the more important. However, the visitors, who recently lost 3:2 to Bremen after a strong performance, are warning against their upcoming opponents: "What happened before doesn't matter this evening," said Grenzau manager Markus Ströher. "It doesn't matter who's on which streak. Both teams will do everything they can to win this important game. I'm convinced that we can get a win there if all the players play to their full potential."
SV Werder Bremen - TSV Bad Königshofen
SV Werder Bremen and TSV Bad Königshofen meet on Saturday evening, two teams that can be counted among the extended circle of play-off candidates - so the importance of the game is correspondingly high. Bad Königshofen only recently scored two big points: Thanks to the individual victories of Bastian Steger (2) and Martin Allegro, the club from Lower Franconia prevailed 3:1 against Ochsenhausen. Bremen, who won 3:2 in Grenzau on Monday and are currently just ahead of Bad Königshofen (6:6) with 6:4 points, had a slightly tougher time with their third win of the season. "We hope to recover quickly over the next few days so that we can prepare well for the game on Saturday evening," said Werder coach Cristian Tamas after the latest success.
1. FSV Mainz 05 - Post SV Mühlhausen
The pressure is slowly mounting on Post SV Mülhausen: After two wins at the start, the Thuringians have recently suffered three defeats in a row. And even if the opponents, Grünwettersbach (0:3), Saarbrücken and Düsseldorf (1:3 each), were three of last year's top five, Mühlhausen needs an end to this negative streak if it is to make the play-offs again at the end of this season. However, their upcoming opponents, 1. FSV Mainz 05, could well turn out to be a spoilsport: Although the Rheinhessen side currently only have two points to their name, they have often sold themselves dearly, including recently in the 3-2 defeat in Grünwettersbach. Li Yongyin, in particular, is proving to be the reinforcement they were hoping for and currently has a 3:2 singles record.
TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt - ASV Grünwettersbach
Three home wins, two away defeats: ASV Grünwettersbach has picked up where it left off in the current season and has worked its way up to fourth place with 6:4 points. At TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt, the team from Baden is now making its third attempt to pick up points away from home after losing the games in Saarbrücken (0:3) and Ochsenhausen (1:3). If they are to succeed, Grünwettersbach must stop Benedikt Duda in particular: The 29-year-old is responsible for five of Bergneustadt's eight individual victories so far this season and recently led his team to their second win of the season against Fulda (3:1).
1. FC Saarbrücken TT - TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen
Not only Grünwettersbach, but also TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen are currently struggling with an away curse. The Swabians have already played away from home four times this season, losing three times and only winning in Bremen (3:0). Ochsenhausen now wants to shine away from home in the top match at 1. FC Saarbrücken TT: "Saarbrücken could hardly be a tougher opponent for us, especially in our current situation," said team manager Manuel Pfender - especially as the TTF have some personnel worries: "Nevertheless, we will try to sell ourselves in the best possible way and reach our performance limit. Then it's not impossible to take home something worthwhile." While Ochsenhausen are currently on 6:6 points, Saarbrücken are on target and are in second place with 10:0 points and no losses.
Overview of the 7th matchday
Friday, 13. October
7 p.m.: TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell – TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau
saturday, 14. October
7 p.m.: SV Werder Bremen – TSV Bad Königshofen
Sunday, 15. October
1 p.m.: 1. FSV Mainz 05 – Post SV Mühlhausen
4 p.m.: TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt – ASV Grünwettersbach
Monday, 16. October
7 p.m.: 1. FC Saarbrücken TT – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen