The upward trend at 1. FC Magdeburg was temporarily slowed by the defeat in Bochum. On Sunday, the FCM now has to survive without Baris Atik and a seasoned defensive trio against the in-form leaders Paderborn.
Baris Atik is the linchpin at 1. FC Magdeburg. The 30-year-old creative player is now missing the home game on Sunday (November 9th, 1:30 p.m. in the audio stream and live ticker in the SpiO app) against leaders SC Paderborn due to a yellow card suspension. In addition, the personnel situation on the defensive became more difficult. After Jean Hugonet now also injured themselves Tobias Müller and Daniel Heber heavier and will be out for a few weeks.
Pesch gets one Starting eleven chance?
Defensively, things are starting to get tricky. “It’s a challenge. We’re still thinking about how we can fill one or two gaps,” said coach Petrik Sander during the matchday press conference on Friday (November 7th).
However, there are some offensive alternatives. One person who could replace Atik is Noah Pesch. The 20-year-old was born in the summer by Borussia Mönchengladbach on loan and was supposed to gain match practice in Magdeburg. That hasn’t worked so far. The offensive man with the goal instinct only has 16 minutes of second division playing time.
But his big moment could come on Sunday. “I give it my all in training and try to show myself. That’s all I can influence. The coach makes the lineup,” grinned Pesch into the camera. After all, he scored one of the meager nine FCM goals this season. Petrik Sander wanted to get up SPORT IN THE EAST-Don’t specify demand yet. Noah Pesch is an option, said the coach, but it is still too early to commit.
Head coach Ralf Kettemann has been going from win to win with SC Paderborn for weeks.
Paderborn with a club record
The poor goal tally is one of the reasons why Magdeburg is in the bottom of the table and why there is talk of a stark contrast before the duel against Paderborn. The opponent from East Westphalia recently celebrated seven wins in a row, setting a new club record. “We will have a tough job to tackle. One can only take our hats off to the way they work in Paderborn,” said Sander.
His team, on the other hand, has the worst record in its second division history. Since the introduction of the three-point rule, 38 teams in the Bundesliga’s lower house have collected a maximum of seven points after eleven games, only eleven of which ended up staying in class. Despite the clear table constellation, the FCM does not want to hide. “There is nothing better than playing at home against the league leaders. We want to be brave and have our periods of possession, then something is possible against Paderborn,” the coach is convinced.
FCM: Upswing despite Bochum bankruptcy
The situation of the Elbe townspeople is serious, but by no means hopeless. Under the interim duo Petrik Sander/Pascal Ibold, the FCM got four points from two games, but then lost last weekend in Bochum (0:2). The upswing is still noticeable and the recognition from opponents is often great. But “too much praise and missing points don’t go together. We’ve taken a lot of steps, but not enough yet. But we’re on the right track,” Sander made it clear.
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