The Ruhrpott derby between MSV Duisburg and SGS Essen will take place on Monday evening (October 16, 2023). Both teams can look back on a long Bundesliga history.
It has now been almost 19 years since Essen and Duisburg played the first district derby in the history of the women’s Bundesliga, which resulted in a bitter 1:4 defeat for the club from Essen. The SGS had just been promoted to Germany’s top women’s league this season. Unlike Duisburg, which at the time still competed as FCR 2001 Duisburg. In the 2000s, the multiple cup winners were one of the best teams in international women’s football and produced world champions such as Silke Rottenberg, Simone Laudehr and Fatmire Bajramaj.
Times are changing in the women’s Bundesliga
However, the successes are now history, as the past two decades have left Duisburg anything but unscathed. In 2009, the club won under the leadership of national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, who is currently represented by Horst Hrubesch due to illness, and national player Alex Popp Champions League. Just four years later, there was a threat of bankruptcy, so the once independent women’s club merged with the men of MSV Duisburg in January 2014. In the following season they were relegated for the first time in the history of the women’s Bundesliga. Although direct promotion was achieved, everyday league life since then has been characterized by the fight to stay in the league.
The fate of Duisburg is emblematic of women’s football in Germany. In addition to Duisburg, Turbine Potsdam, now relegated to the 2nd Bundesliga, and 1. FFC Frankfurt dominated the league. The latter merged with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2020. Nowadays, teams with a men’s club behind them dominate the action.
SGS Essen goes its own way
The constant fight to stay in the league also determines the everyday life of SGS Essen, which is now the only women’s club in the Bundesliga and therefore without the support of a financially strong men’s club. The fact that they have been consistently represented in the Bundesliga since their promotion in 2004 makes coach Markus Högner proud. “We have been confronted with the fact that men’s clubs are increasingly investing in women’s football for years. But we are going our own way. We said years ago that we had to find our own identity and focus on young talent.”said Högner about the sports show.
In fact, many a great career began at SGS Essen – from the current national team, Linda Dallmann, Sara Doorsoun, Lena Oberdorf and Lea Schüller should be mentioned here. “We have already made a good contribution to German women’s football”says Högner confidently.
The club has made big steps forward in the past three years, and managed to stay in the league last season without much trepidation. We want to achieve that this season. “We have to score the points early so that we can start planning for next season. But that is of course wishful thinking.” The women’s Bundesliga is now too competitive, so you have to push yourself to the limit in every game, says Högner.
Duisburg disappointed after the start of the season
His team also has to do that in the derby against MSV. “It’s going to be a close game. Duisburg is uncomfortable to play, very physical. But in the last two years we’ve always looked pretty good against them.”said Högner. The coach also hopes for the input of his assistant coach Robert Augustin. He only moved to SGS for the current season – after six years in Duisburg. “It’s one thing, getting the information, but then implementing it successfully is something completely different.”restricts Högner.
Thomas Gerstner, coach of the women’s team from MSV Duisburg
Essen already has three points, Duisburg still has to wait for its first win of the season, with one point the club is currently in a relegation zone. The nine goals conceded at the start against Hoffenheim were particularly painful, said MSV coach Thomas Gerstner to the sports show. “Of course we hoped for more, especially after what felt like good preparation.” He doesn’t see his team as favorites in the upcoming derby. “That’s not who we are in any game. But if we get a lot of what we’ve trained in and can put it on the pitch, anything is possible. Even a win against Essen.”
Not a big fan of playing on Mondays
Gerstner is certain that, in keeping with a derby, every millimeter of grass must be fought for. Normally the MSV coach is not a big fan of Monday games; he finds them too fan-unfriendly, especially for visiting fans who have traveled a long way. “But that’s not the case in a derby, so it’s suitable in this case.”