8:14 p.m
The direct comparison clearly speaks in favor of the host: Düsseldorf has won four of the last five competitive games against FCK – one of them in the DFB Cup – and has only lost two of the 14 previous second division games against the Red Devils (nine wins, five draws). The overall impressive 42 Bundesliga duels testify to the great history of both teams, but they dates back at least 27 years.
8:07 p.m
After the two goals conceded by leaders St. Pauli today, Fortuna currently has the best defense in the league, with Kastenmeier only having to reach behind him seven times. The Lauter offensive will be required today.
20:02
Düsseldorf has run out of steam. After three wins in a row with 11:2 goals, there have recently been three games without a win, twice Fortuna didn’t get more than a 1:1 at home (against Hannover and Osnabrück) and away at HSV there was a narrow 0:1- Defeat.
19:58
During the break, the Lauterers tested against the French first division club FC Metz and lost 2:3. There’s a tough program ahead for the rest of October: After tonight’s game in Düsseldorf, HSV’s top game awaits again next week at Betzenberg before Lautern welcomes the currently struggling first division club FC Köln in the DFB Cup.
19:53
The Red Devils have a broad chest. After two defeats at the start of the season, they remained undefeated, and the series now extends to eight competitive games. The FCK said goodbye to the international break with a 3-1 home win, and in the last two away games Lautern did not get beyond a draw (1-1 at KSC, 2-2 in Osnabrück).
7:47 p.m
The table constellation in this top game is exciting: Kaiserslautern has 17 points and is in 4th place, Fortuna only has two points less and is in 6th place. Due to St. Pauli’s draw, Lautern can share points with the league leaders and their city rivals HSV draw level, but will hardly be able to overtake them due to a significantly weaker goal difference. With a win, Fortuna could move past today’s opponents and into 3rd or 4th place; with a defeat, the Düsseldorf team would lose sight of the top teams more and more – after they were still at the top of the table two games ago.
7:39 p.m
It is the first game of the “Fortuna for All” project, which gives everyone watching free tickets and therefore ensures a full hut. There will also be free games against St. Pauli (19th matchday) and Braunschweig (28th matchday). In the long term, the project should include as many home games of the season as possible. For some Lauterer fans it is a bit unfortunate that this affects their game, because in a normal, non-sold-out game the FCK fans would have filled significantly more than “just” the guest block.
7:30 p.m
Floodlit game in Düsseldorf: Fortuna welcomes 1. FC Kaiserslautern for the top game of the second league on Saturday evening. The game starts at 8:30 p.m. in the Merkur Game Arena, good evening and welcome!