Ex-national player Verena Schweers regularly sheds light on women’s football and especially the situation in the Bundesliga for kicker. This time she takes a look at the relegation battle: Who is it going to be tight for, from whom does she expect more?
Disappointed: The season is anything but smooth for MSV Duisburg and defender Claire O’Riordan.
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While the top teams are already starting their squad planning for the coming season, the last four in the table are – again – about survival in the league. MSV Duisburg, SC Sand, SV Meppen and SV Werder Bremen have to regroup for the second half of the season and prepare for the long relegation battle. But when you look at the number of points and the external presentation of these teams, I wonder what else is to come.
The MSV was only just able to save itself last season because of the better goal difference. Now they are in last place in the table with only three points from twelve games – a consistently bad development. In the past few years, Duisburg’s team was able to prevail against direct competitors in the close matches, primarily thanks to their mentality.
“… that was also the highest of feelings”
They seem to have lost this quality this year: no victory in twelve games, plus two 0-0 draws in direct duels against newly promoted Meppen, leave nothing to be hoped for. And the support from the entire club? Nothing! The girls are allowed to run into the men’s Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena from time to time – but that was the highest of emotions.
At SC Sand, Swiss Nora Häuptle, the sporting director’s preferred candidate, Sascha Reiss, was signed up for the season. People at Ortenau had hoped for a lot from her. However, there is no real plan: The Sanderinnen only managed to score six points – including a somewhat lucky win against Frankfurt. Otherwise there is a painful defeat in a direct duel with Meppen and cracking defeats against the big players in the league. I’m curious to see what those responsible from sand have put together to stay in the league. Newcomers from the USA and Denmark should already be on the way. I think it will be extremely tight!
I have a good feeling about Meppen
The first non-relegation place, 10th place, surprisingly secured promoted Meppen before the start of the second half of the season. The Meppenerinnen were able to draw attention to themselves, especially in the first games with two draws against Duisburg and Potsdam. In general, the girls also do well in the games, narrow defeats testify to good approaches. You could keep up against Bremen and Potsdam for a long time, but had to admit defeat by goals in the last minutes of the game. Annoying! Despite all that, SV Meppen seems to have arrived in the Bundesliga. I have a good feeling.
I expect more from Werder in the long term
Verena Schweers illuminates the situation in women’s football for kicker.
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I see the situation at Werder Bremen in a similar way. Last year’s champions of the 2nd Bundesliga are back in the upper house after a year of abstinence – and there again in the relegation battle. You could score points against your direct competitors, even if only just barely. From a club as large as Werder, I personally expect more in the long term than just a pendulum between relegation battle in the first division and promotion successes in the lower house. Bremen have a good chance of staying in the league, but only if they win the direct duels in the second half of the season.
The table middle field suffered losses
SGS Essen (8th) and SC Freiburg (7th) have placed themselves in the middle of the league. Both teams experienced an enormous upheaval after last season. Essen has lost four national players in one fell swoop: Lena Oberdorf (VfL Wolfsburg), Turid Knaak (Atletico Madrid), Lea Schüller and Marina Hegering (both Bayern Munich).
Freiburg also surrendered two national players: Merle Frohms (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Klara Bühl (Bayern Munich). Both teams have significantly rejuvenated their squads. Eintracht Frankfurt (6th) and Bayer Leverkusen (5th) also belong to the midfield of the league. I would like to see that all four named teams can manage to make direct duels against the top clubs more exciting so that there is more competition in the upper house.
Verena Schweers
Verena Schweers played in the Bundesliga for SC Freiburg and the top clubs VfL Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich. Among other things, she won the Champions League and the German championship twice. The defender also made 47 international matches for the DFB selection. She ended her active career in summer 2020.
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