WOh the one who went 16 games of the season without a win, won the seventeenth game and has since been able to say that he’s doing well in the fight to remain in the league.
The gentlemen of SC Frankfurt 1880 have been aware for months that it counts for them in the second half of May. That they have to be in the best possible shape in the Bundesliga playdowns.
Because the long-awaited first win was achieved in the seventeenth attempt this season, but a defeat followed in the eighteenth match, it is 1:1 against Düsseldorfer HC in the series played according to the “Best of Five” format.
More than 700 spectators
Now this weekend – Saturday at 2 p.m., Sunday at 12 p.m. (free entry) – there are two home games for Frankfurt and with that the chance to avoid direct relegation and to stay in the top class for another year.
A crowd that is big by Hessian hockey standards is expected for the two important games: The SC 80 is expecting more than 700 spectators each at the facility on Feldgerichtstrasse in the Dornbusch district. “That will push us enormously,” says eighties captain Anton Schmidt-Opper.
“Totally at eye level”
“The first legs have already shown how tight the whole thing is. It will be important to make few mistakes.” Frankfurt am Rhein started the series with a convincing 3-0 win, but lost 1-0 the following day after a mixed performance.
“We have a big goal and are totally on an equal footing with the people of Düsseldorf. Little things will decide,” believes attacker Johannes Gans, who joined the promoted team from Frankenthal at the beginning of this season. Coach Robin Rösch thinks highly of his young storm duo Gans and Magnus Hautzel.
“Also a matter of the head”
And hopes for a few attractive actions resulting from their individual strength. “The two teams are playing evenly. Things like defending and taking penalty corners and the form of the key players will be important. In finals like this, that will also be a matter for the head,” said Rösch.
They see a need for improvement in the eighties in converting their chances from a penalty corner. In the playdowns, it will probably also depend on the precision work of corner specialist Laurens Meurer. The return of Moritz Schmidt-Opper is important for the team (with Johann there is a third brother in the squad). The technically strong midfielder missed the first two playdown duels in Düsseldorf due to a corona infection, but can now play again.
Although the Hessians remained without a win in the entire main round, there were at least five draws. What definitely stood out was the 0:0 on their own pitch against the top club and championship contender Rot-Weiss Köln, who finished the main round in first place. An experience and result that gave the SC 80 a boost.
Mon – Fri at 4 p.m.; Sat – Sun at 6 p.m
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For Hugo von Montgelas, this weekend will probably be the last appearances in the jersey of his home club, where he once learned to play hockey as a child. The 2019 U-19 European champions received an invitation to play in the senior national team for an international trip to India in April, and will be moving to Bundesliga competitor Mannheimer HC in late summer.
But now it’s all about the Frankfurt team. According to Rösch, his players are adapted to the physical strain of two extremely important games within 22 hours. Especially in the athletic field, the eighties have consistently prepared – already at the end of the short Bundesliga indoor season in winter and clearly with the thrust in May.
