This season Fortuna Düsseldorf could achieve promotion to the Bundesliga. The small squad remains a problem for the Rhinelanders before the start of the second half of the second league.
After a successful first half of the season Fortuna Dusseldorf As fourth in the table, we continue to dream of promotion to the Bundesliga. One point separates the Rhinelanders from relegation place 3, five points behind the leaders Holstein Kiel – that’s how good they were Fortuna After the first half of the season, the last time there was three years ago.
In the 2020/21 season, the red-whites were also lurking one point behind third place in the relegation zone, while leaders Hamburger SV were also five points away – in the end, neither club was promoted, Düsseldorf came fifth.
Best offense, third best defense
It is completely unclear whether it will work at the end of this season. The teams are close together in the top half of the table, even tenth-placed 1. FC Nürnberg can still look up, seven points behind third place.
Düsseldorf was relatively consistent in the first half of the season. The best offensive in the league (37 goals) showed many efficient performances such as in the 5:3 over FC Schalke 04 or in the 5:0 at newly promoted SV Elversberg. In addition, the defense is the third best in the league with 21 goals conceded.
Ao Tanaka scored the winning goal against Kaiserslautern.
In addition, the Fortunes presented themselves as a well-rehearsed and robust team that can also cope with setbacks. Düsseldorf was able to turn several games around after falling behind: The most impressive performance was probably the 4:3 against 1. FC Kaiserslautern (after 0:3) in the first free home game of the season (“Fortuna for all”), the most important There were comebacks in the DFB Cup games at SpVgg Unterhaching (6:3 nV) and at 1. FC Magdeburg (3:2) – also against the background of the tight club finances.
Squad is sewn on edge
However, Düsseldorf’s small, well-rehearsed squad is also their biggest weakness: with 24 players, the Rhinelanders still have the smallest squad in the first three German leagues. At times, Fortuna was already struggling with personnel in the first half of the season due to failures, and coach Daniel Thioune often had to show his creativity in the line-up.
After the failed move from Simon Zoller (now FC St. Pauli) in the summer, Fortuna signed Christoph Daferner, the striker they were looking for, in the winter. The 26-year-old, who came on loan (with an option to buy) from league rivals 1. FC Nürnberg, only scored four goals in 38 appearances for FCN. “We were looking for a player who has already proven his qualities and still fits within our budget,” said sports director Klaus Allofs.
In return, Fortuna let Daniel Ginczek, who was rarely used in Düsseldorf, move to MSV Duisburg – and was thus able to remove a big earner from the payroll. Should center forward Vincent Vermeij (9 goals so far) be unavailable, Daferner and youngster Jona Niemic would now have to take care of the attack center.
Siebert’s loss is serious
Top performer Siebert (middle) is out for the time being.
Thioune is likely to be worried about the situation in defense. Jamil Siebert, who played in all 17 games of the first half of the season, will be out longer with a torn medial ligament. Captain Andre Hoffmann and Jordy de Wijs will initially form the central defense, but both have repeatedly struggled with injuries in the past. In addition to the trio, Tim Oberdorf is the only trained central defender in the squad.
Fortuna would like to sign another defender – ideally a flexible central defender who can also be deployed on the wing. Given Fortuna’s finances, another loan deal seems most likely.
Zimmermann and Gavory set
Matthias Zimmermann (right) and Nicolas Gavory (left) are in the full-back positions. Both were out this season due to injuries, but are now fit again. There are no equivalent alternatives behind this. Winger Emmanuel Iyoha often had to play on the left back in the first half of the season.
Thioune is spoiled for choice in midfield alone. According to Thioune, Yannik Engelhardt is seeded, and Isak Johannesson and Christos Tzolis also performed well. Ao Tanaka, Shinta Appelkamp and Marcel Sobottka will probably compete for fourth place.
Mixed preparation
The preparation for the second half of the season was mixed: there was a defeat (0:2 against NEC Nijmegen), a win (6:2 against FC Dordrecht) and a draw (2:2 against Arminia Bielefeld). “Against Nijmwegen we were shown the limits. But we were also able to see for ourselves what is possible for us,” said Thioune.
Fortuna has a difficult opening program. First they will face Bundesliga relegated Hertha BSC on Sunday (1.30 p.m.), who have gained momentum after initial problems. “It’s just a completely different face now, they’ve completely changed and so has their game,” said Thioune.
This will be followed by two duels against second-placed FC St. Pauli – first in the league in Düsseldorf (January 27th/8.30 p.m.), then three days later in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup in Hamburg (January 30th/8.45 p.m.).
