Greuther Fürth - Karlsruher SC

The two team who meet each other at the first Round had different stories last Season. The home side was close to be relegated while KSC was very close to get promoted but failed very very close in the end. Both teams want to look forward and forget all the negative things they had to be ahead for a better future. Greuther Fürth is aiming for a safe midfield place this Season while KSC wants to be on top again but they do not give out any statement according to much better teams and also much better budget the others have.

It was a big move this summer in Fürth, some of their important players left the club, also they have a new Coach on the bench. Stefan Ruthenbeck comes form Aalen and he knows the league very well despite he got relegated with Aalen. The players who left were MID Fürstner, K Hesl, STR Przybylko and some from the second row. But they signed 7 new guys who should help to bring them more stability and success in their play. Some former team mates from Ruthenbeck came from Aalen like Gjasula and Hofmann. Both are ahead of their rivals and should be in the starting lineup today.
Coach Ruthenbeck counts on a 4-1-4-1 or on a 4-3-3 system. In goal Mielitz has some advantage against Flekken and should start here. The new signing form Freiburg must show now that they are able to bring his performance constant over a Season and give his team some help. The defensive line should be the same as from last season because some of the players are not ready. With Schröck and Korcsmar are two players out injured. Marco Caligiuri should be the head of the defensive line.
In their offensive area they have a lot of open positions. Coach Ruthenbeck is not sure what he wants to field there but he is clever and he does not want to give out all of his tactics. But some winners are there with Zulu and Tropic, both should get a place in starting lineup. In this case it is close and Stiepermann can be on bench first. But if Ruthenbeck does not count on Berisha who need still some time it is not impossible that Stiepermann move into the starting lineup. In attack they have two options who are very good with Freis and Kumbela. One of them are on bench but Kumbela is not ready 100% and in this case Freis starts.
The test friendlies were good with 9 out of 9 but the last test was a big disaster in their own stadium against Celta de Vigo with 1-5.


The KSC has done not so much on the market and they count more on a team from last Season. This could be an advantage because all know the style of Coach Kauczinski or it can be a disadvantage if some of them are meaning they are to safe and they have no fresh blood in their rows. From starting lineup they lost Yabo but they got some new guys as well with Thoelke, Köpke, Hoffer, Manzon. They are still searching for a replacement for Yabo but they have not found one so far. Also with Max and Hennings they have two players in their squad who wants to leave them. Above all Max wants to sign a contract in Augsburg.
Coach Kauczinski counts on the well known system 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2. Top Scorer Hennings got with Hoffer a new and excellent partner. They should hold the offensive flag high for KSC. But nevertheless they have also some problems at the moment above all on the right wing. With Traut, Valentini and Bader are 3 players out who can play there. According to this central defender Stoll must play this part now. But he has made some good matches on this position in friendlies. Also their playmaker Yamada is out injured.
In all their tests they made a good figure and lost only to begin of the trainings camp 0-1 against a lower division team. The other results were rather positive for KSC. Above all against Aarau 2-0 and Malaga 3-1 they showed their strength.