2. Bundesliga 2022/23 MD30 Preview: SV Sandhausen vs Jahn Regensburg
With five matchdays remaining in the 2022/23 2. Bundesliga season, the relegation battle is set to intensify even further at the Hardtwaldstadion when bottom side Sandhausen hosts 16th placed Jahn Regensburg on Sunday.
Sandhausen have started to see an upturn in form since Tomas Oral was booted in favour of returning interim coach Gerhard Kleppinger. In their first outing under Kleppinger, Sandhausen scored a vital 1:2 victory over Magdeburg thanks to a brace by unlikely goal scorer Dario Dumić. Last weekend, Sandhausen were 0:2 after 30 minutes against Paderborn. But, thanks in part to their prolificness in front of goal, Sandhausen clawed their way back to salvage a draw.
Jahn Regensburg looked to have turned their season around heading into April after victories against Holstein Kiel and Paderborn. However, since then Jahn have only scored two points out of a possible 12 and dropped into the relegation playoff spot. Last Sunday, Jahn were reduced to 10-men late and failed to find a way through a stout Kaiserslautern defence
Two sides in the bottom three, both sides playing for their 2. Bundesliga future. Let’s take a look at this weekend's 2. Bundesliga match of the week preview between SV Sandhausen and Jahn Regensburg
Last time they met
Jahn Regensburg 2:1 SV Sandhausen
SSV: (1’ Aleksandr Zhirov (OG), 70’ Andreas Albers)
SVS: (12’ Alexander Esswein)
On Matchday 13, Jahn Regensburg and Sandhausen went into battle at the JahnStadion Regensburg. Fans were still streaming into the stadium when the hosts took the lead when Andreas Albers’ cross was turned in by Sandhausen defender Aleksandr Zhirov. But this didn’t deter Alois Schwartz’s side as 11 minutes later when Alexander Esswein finished off Christian Kinsombi’s cross.
Jahn Regensburg really needed the break, and came out firing in the second half creating chance after chance. Eventually, they would break through 20 minutes before regular time ended. Sandhausen’s inability to clear their defensive third proved costly as the ball fell to Albers for his 6th goal of the season.
Albers hasn’t scored since then.
Key players
Franck Evina
Sandhausen are a team that is often busy in the transfer window, they are typically players with plenty of Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga experience, but are sometimes towards the twilight of their careers. But, a player they took a chance on has payed out handsomely, and that’s Franck Evina.
Evina was well regarded at Bayern Munich Junior, however, less than satisfactory stints in Hannover, Viktoria Berlin and KFC Uerdingen left the 22-year-old playing Regionalliga football earlier this season. Perhaps playing 4th tier football was a good reminder to Evina that making it in this business isn’t easy. In 18 appearances with Hannover II, Evina scored 12 goals from 18 appearances and joined Sandhausen in the winter.
Since switching Lower Saxony for the Baden-Württemberg, Evina has been a joker for Sandhausen, in 9 appearances he has 3 goals, which included scoring the equaliser last time out. When Sandhausen has needed a spark in the Rückrunde, Evina has provided it and will be leaned upon once again this weekend.
Kaan Caliskaner
If Jahn Regensburg are to win on Sunday, and their hopes will be to survive for another season, it will be in large part thanks to attacking midfielder Kaan Caliskaner. The 23-year-old Köln native is in his third season with Jahn, and, where he struggled to make an impact early on, he’s now the focal of Regesnburg’s attack.
This season, Caliskaner has scored five goals and managed two assists, which compared to his first two years in Bavaria the attacking midfielder managed a single goal and two assists. But there is more to it than just the numbers. Caliskaner is a pivotal part in progressing the ball, and in the final third that’s where he shines. Whether it’s finding a ball that leads to a cross into the box, or driving and cutting onto his left, Caliskaner is a dual offensive threat.
From the coaches
The pre-game press conferences were completed on Friday, here’s what they had to say.
Gerhard Kleppinger
"It was a point for morale. The comeback was good for us and also for our fans. With the last two games, we have created a starting position to stay within reach. Now we have to go one better.”
"I taught the team that the game is not over until the referee blows the whistle. Even though it's a phrase, it's immensely important. Because as long as the game is going on, we have a chance."
"We are well positioned. Currently, only Dennis Diekmeier and Raphael Framberger are not available.”
"We have to show courage and tolerate mistakes. Mistakes happen and should be compensated for directly on the pitch: That's where mutual help is needed. There are two possibilities for Regensburg's performance: Either they take full risk right from the start or they leave the game to us to become dangerous on the counterattack."
“Our boys can read the table and know what is at stake. At the same time, you have to have a certain looseness to be successful. It's important not to build up too much pressure. Instead, we need everyone pull the other along and I firmly believes that they can achieve the common goal.”
Credit: SV Sandhausen
Mersad Selimbegovic
"Unfortunately the list has grown again, unfortunately we get another mask: Wastl Nachreiner had a successful operation on his nose yesterday morning, which he had broken in training. We wait to see if it will be enough for team training again as early as next week or if it will take longer. The fears of Minos Gouras have unfortunately been confirmed. For him, the season is over due to a torn syndesmosis ligament. Bene Saller is suspended for two games after his red card. Blendi Idrizi and Oscar Schönfelder are in rehabilitation training. Idrizi could be available again as early as next week. With Schönfelder, patience is still required, even though he is doing well."
“Christian Viet and Konrad Faber are two options. We in the coaching team have to decide carefully because we have to adjust to the opponent. So far, it is still open whether Sandhausen will play with a five-man backline or in a 4-3-3. Our decision will depend on that, but also on the last two training sessions this week. Faber did well last week and is also back at full strength.”
"I hope everyone knows how important the game is. The tension is hard to grasp, but it's not much different from the other games. We know we have to score. The number of games continues to decrease. But we must also not overestimate this tension and build it up, otherwise it will constantly remain in the back of our minds and cause us to tense up. We don't need that.”
"An opponent is waiting for us who has recovered somewhat in the past games and scored points. They will do everything to keep the points. It will be a fight. We have to be prepared for that. It's not about playing beautiful football, as in recent weeks, but successful football. Sandhausen has very high individual quality and has been able to strengthen itself further during the winter break. In addition, the new coaching duo has played with two systems. That makes the preparation even more difficult. We have to stick to our game and wrestle the opponents down."
"Those who have followed the last units have seen that the atmosphere is good. I really liked the intensity. There is a normal and balanced atmosphere. The guys are aware of the situation, but it's also significant to keep balance."
Credit: Jahn Regensburg
Expected lineups
Under Kleppinger, there has been some immediate improvement. But Sandhausen are still a long way from being in a position of safety. From the side that drew with Paderborn on the weekend, I don’t expect any changes from the starting XI. Evina would be an obvious candidate to start, however, he’s proven to be far more impactful coming off the bench.
Mersad Selimbegović has been under constant criticism throughout the season, but with no change in sight, the 40-year-old Bosnian will have until the end of the campaign to save his job. Benedikt Saller was sent off last time out against Kaiserslautern and will be the forced change for Jahn Regensburg, his replacement is most likely to be former St. Pauli midfielder Christian Viet.
Prediction
As we reach the climax of what has been an engrossing season, two sides will end the campaign heading to the 3. Liga whilst one will have the chance to survive in the relegation playoff. Sandhausen almost looked dead and buried prior to Kleppinger’s arrival, but only sitting three points behind Hansa Rostock and opponents Jahn Regensburg, they still have a chance to make the great escape.
Jahn are in a prime position to survive, if they can put the pressure on Arminia Bielefeld and Eintracht Braunschweig. This can be done by taking points, without stating the obvious.
Efficiency will be the key to this game, with both sides being in the bottom five in scoring. The team that makes the most of their chances will help their survival causes greatly.
This will be an intense, defensive struggle in Sandhausen on Sunday and I can’t see either team separating themselves come the end of the 90 minutes.
I’m predicting a 1:1 draw