With a new boss on course to stay in the class: Eintracht Braunschweig set the course for remaining in the 2nd Bundesliga four days after his change of coach. With Marc Pfitzner on the sidelines, the Lower Saxony won the relegation first leg in third division third 1. FC Saarbrücken with 2: 0 (0: 0).
Lino Tempelmann (49th) and Marvin Rittmüller (61st) met for Eintracht, who had separated from Daniel Schering after the last matchday of the regular season. It helped – Saarbrücken, which wants to go back to the second class after 19 years, did not get through.
“We can be happy today, we played it very seriously. Now we have to take the last step,” said Tempelmann at “Sky”. The decision is made on Tuesday (8:30 p.m., Sat.1 and Sky) in the second leg in Braunschweig.
The 15,000 fans in the sold -out Ludwigspark saw more fighting than class, especially before the break. The 1. FCS, who had won third place with three wins from four games, didn’t know much about his possession. A low shot by Kai Brünker just past the long corner (16th) was the only excitement of the tough first half hour.
Braunschweig appeared much more compact compared to the sobering 1: 4 against Nuremberg on the last match day – and continued to go forward. Even before the break, the Eintracht lead was in the air, shortly after the change of sides: After a defense against FCS goalkeeper Phillip Menzel, the ball landed at Tempelmann, who hit the empty goal from the second row.
Saarbrücken subsequently pushed for the equalization – and was caught cold when Rittmüller increased by direct acceptance. Braunschweig now has a good chance of ensuring a rarity in relegation: Since the reintroduction of the 2008/09 season, only four times of the second division has prevailed in 16 duels.