Pre-Match Report
U19s set to face a top opponent in their first home game
Coach Mike Tullberg will be back on the sidelines with his assistant coaches Daniel Rios and Patrick Fritsch. The trio were absent for the 2-1 defeat in Leipzig in the opening game and instead coached the BVB first team in Heidenheim. "The situation was of course difficult for the boys and the defeat was very frustrating," explained Tullberg, who clearly laid out the objective for the season: ”We want to finish in one of the top four places in our group and qualify for the Final Round of the German Championship."
In KSC, a strong opponent will be coming to Dortmund-Brackel. "I currently see Karlsruhe as one of the top five teams in Germany," Andi Haidl, the coach of SpVgg Unterhaching, said of the Baden outfit following his team's 4-0 defeat on Matchday 1 in Group D of the main round. Mike Tullberg added to that: "The team are now playing their second season with almost the same crop of players and primarily have players in the older year group. They have internalised all their processes and are among the best that German U19 club football has to offer." The second-division club's youngsters finished top of their preliminary round group ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt and Mainz 05. Karlsruher SC have also reached the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal. Mike Tullberg has prepared his team for their opponents, their physicality and fast-paced play. “They play a very mature game. We' rely on a lot of talented youngsters and are in good spirits,” he explained.
U19s full of confidence
FSV Mainz 05 lead Group D in the DFB-Nachwuchsliga after the first round of matches and a 5-1 victory against Union Berlin. They are followed in second place by Karlsruher SC, who also benefited from a 42nd-minute sending-off in their 4-0 triumph against Unterhaching. Third place is occupied by Rasenballsport Leipzig. In order to ensure they do not fall behind, "we should win on Saturday if possible," said Tullberg. In Louey Ben Farhat, Mateo Kritzer, Rafael Pedrosa and Fanul Lutolli, the opposition have outstanding individual players who are part of the second-division team's extended squad.
Borussia will be without Jonas Feddersen, who was shown a yellow card in Leipzig. Ousmane Diallo will return to the team after serving his suspension. As in all likelihood will Tyler Meiser, who was unable to play in the defeat in the opening match due to injury. "We've worked well in training and are full of confidence going into this tough game," declared Mike Tullberg, who is hoping for a good crowd and support from the stands.
(wiwi)