On Friday evening, Eintracht Braunschweig fights against Saarbrücken for relegation in the after -seat. In 2017, the BTSV already played in the relegation – for the ascent. A review.
Shortly before the 2016/17 season finale, Braunschweig sniffs at the Bundesliga. The Eintracht trained by Torsten Lieberknecht is second with 63 points before the 33rd match day. A victory in the penultimate penultimate Arminia Bielefeld, who was at risk of relegation, would have brought the BTSV to a good starting position for the promotion, especially since the big competitors VfB Stuttgart (1st, 66 points) and Hannover 96 (3rd, 63 points) play against each other. But the Arminia wins 6-0-and Eintracht Braunschweig slides in third place and thus into the Bundesliga relegation.
The “wolves” had slipped to 16th place on the last Bundesliga matchday through a 1-2 at HSV. The VW Club, in 2015 still cup winner, must pull the “rescue parachute” (sports director Olaf Rebbe) to prevent the descent into the 2nd league.
BTSV coach Torsten Lieberknecht already sensed how difficult it would be before the duel. “I would have liked to do without the games,” he said before the first leg in Wolfsburg. “This is a comparison that actually seems to be in the area of the impossible.” Left -back Ken Reichel was still looking forward to the “reward for the giant season we played”.
In the 2013/14 Bundesliga season, it had already shown that Eintracht can keep up with VfL: BTSV won 2-0 away, the second leg ended 1-1. Results that would now be enough for the fourth promotion to the 1st division.
On May 25, 2017, 3,000 Braunschweig travel to Wolfsburg, almost 40 kilometers away. In fact: there are hardly any differences between the “wolves” and the blatant outsider. Lieberknecht relies on a stable defensive – that works. The game is characterized by duels and resting balls. Clear chances remain in short supply. Wolfsburg is particularly dangerous for standards, but goalkeeper Jasmin Fejzic reacts strongly several times.
In the 34th minute, however, Fejzic is powerless: Mario Gomez turns a dubious penalty to 1-0. Previously, Gustav Valsvik had been hit on the applied arm from a short distance – referee Sascha Stegemann nevertheless points to the point. A wrong decision. Bitterer: Before the scene, there should have been a free kick for Braunschweig because of a handball from Gomez. But the VAR, which could have intervened here, is only introduced for the 2017/18 season. “With such a decision, maybe a whole season is on the ass,” says Lieberknecht after the final whistle.
Braunschweig has hardly any solutions throughout 90 minutes. The best option: After 23 minutes, Mirko Boland heads a flank from Christoffer Nyman just past the left post. In the end, Wolfsburg cheers over a happy 1-0.
The hope in Braunschweig still lives. “This is the last final chance that we have to achieve something historical. Defensive and offensive, we are able to keep the opponent in check,” announced Torsten Lieberknecht before the second leg on May 29.
And indeed: in the first 45 minutes, Braunschweig dominates the action in front of a home backdrop. Nyman (13th) checks VfL keeper Koen Casteels early. Valsvik narrowly misses a Reichel flank (25th). Reichel himself comes to the shot from ten meters shortly before the break – and briefly (41.). Wolfsburg can count itself lucky about the goalless break.