What Bielefeld were when they arrived in Bremen last weekend, is exactly what Werder are in Duisburg, the Green-Whites next opponents on Saturday, 06.10.2007, - a very welcome guest!!
What Bielefeld were when they arrived in Bremen last weekend, is exactly what Werder are in Duisburg, the Green-Whites next opponents on Saturday, 06.10.2007, - a very welcome guest!!
What Bielefeld were when they arrived in Bremen last weekend, is exactly what Werder are in Duisburg, the Green-Whites next opponents on Saturday, 06.10.2007, - a very welcome guest!! From 26 home games against Werder Bremen MSV Duisburg have won 16, more than against any other team in the Bundesliga (Schalke are on a par). The most recent win is also some time ago now. In April 1999 beat the then relegation threatened side from the north 2:0. One year later the two met again and this time Werder won 4:0 at the Weser Stadium with Duisburg long doomed to the drop. It took five years for the ‘Zebra’s’ to return to the top flight and it was to be a brief stay but Duisburg managed the direct re-promotion last season.
Super start in Dortmund, but then...
The ‘Zebra’s’ are now back and on the first match day of the 2007/2008 season, Borussia Dortmund found that out to their peril. The newly promoted side travelled to Dortmund and took all three points away with a 3:1 away win. Hopes were high but since the first day, Duisburg have only won once (3:0 against Bielefeld on the fourth match day) and lost all of the other six games they’ve played. Last Sunday, ex-Werder man Christian Schulz was on target twice as he beat MSV 2:1 with his new club Hanover 96. The result of all that is a shared 16th place in the table with FC Nuremberg: “Their position in the league doesn’t really reflect their performances, we won’t be blinded by it”, remarked Werder coach Thomas Schaaf and continued: “Duisburg can break very quickly, get the ball out from the back very well and they have quality players in their squad.” That said, even if the goal for the season of Schlicke, Grlic, Mikhtari & Co. is to remain in the first division, so far they have made quite a disappointing start.
In particular at home, it is time that Duisburg raised their game and start gathering points. Even in the second division, the MSV-Arena was anything but fortress they would have hoped with the ‘Zebra’s’ winning just eight from 17 games in front of their own fans. Their return to the top flight was based on a strong away record – a fact which made for an exciting close to the season. It was only on the last day of the season that goal difference made decided the promotion for Rudi Bommer’s side ahead of SC Freiburg It was deserved too with the club sitting in a promotion place after all but six of the 34 games they played.
Few departures, impressive arrivals
From the promoted heroes, only Alexander Bugera (now Kaiserslautern), Georg Koch (Dinamo Zagreb) and Markus Kurth (Rot-Weiss Essen) have not made the trip to the first division with the club. Investments were made to prepare the team for the top flight with the arrival of Maicon (Maduereira EC / Brazil), Blagoy Georgiev (Red Star Belgrade), Christian Tiffert (Red Bull Salzburg) and goalkeeper Tom Starke (SC Paderborn). The most effective transfer though, was that of Manasseh Ishiaku. The Nigerian born player with Belgian passport played for many years in his chosen home nation and carried an impressive goal scoring record. In Duisburg he’s made a stunning start and scored five goals in his first eight games, each one celebrated by a spectacular flip with half turn.
’Toni’ just a reserve
Ishiaku’s goal scoring has made it difficult for an old Werder favourite The Bundesliga’s top scorer in Bremen’s double year and scorer of 88 goals in 169 appearances for the Green-Whites, Ailton has not made an impact since joining Rudi Bommer’s team from Red Star Belgrade. In the Blue-White hoops, ‘Toni’ has only played 55 Bundsliga minutes but his hopes are high against his former club.
Thomas Schaaf commented: “We have the chance to put on a better performance before the long international break.” Many of Schaaf’s men will be spread far and wide on international duty for their respective countries and the plan is to head off speaking of success in Duisburg and not regretting the headache of Piräus.
Johnnie Muldoon
