3rd League: Wörl to return to the starting eleven against youth club 1860?

Recommended himself with a substitute goal for the first eleven: Marius Wörl.
IMAGO/Jan Huebner

“After every matchday,” Bielefeld head coach Mitch Kniat looks at the table, “but it doesn’t interest me. We have to beat 60 now and then the table will look OK again.” If the Arminians maintain their current level, it will definitely be worth taking a look at the rankings sooner or later – but until then, a little patience is required.

No defeat so far

Since the start of the season, Bielefeld, who also survived the pre-season unbeaten, have been in good shape. In the 3rd division they have three wins and two draws, and in the DFB Cup the second division team defeated Hannover 96 (2-0). According to Kniat, the recent 3-1 victory in Aue was “of course good”, but the focus is now of course already on the next party.

Before the duel with the Munich Lions, who are second to last in the table with just three points going into the 6th matchday, Bielefeld’s coach has no reason to change anything in his starting eleven. Numerous promising substitute appearances make it “rather difficult” for the coach to choose the starting line-up, “but that’s nice because it means that all the people you bring in are always pushing for the starting eleven.”

Wörl “will prevail at some point”

One player who has undoubtedly recommended himself as a substitute is Marius Wörl. The 20-year-old scored his first goal of the season after coming on as a substitute against Aue – around three weeks after his only league start to date in the 0-0 draw in Essen. For the defensive midfielder, however, the match against the Lions is of particular importance, as he himself played for TSV between 2018 and 2023.

“At some point he will prevail. We will see whether that will be the case on Saturday – I won’t reveal any line-up. But the boy is definitely on a very good path,” Kniat said.

The personnel situation is also comfortable if Jeredy Hilterman and Semi Belkahia are still in the rehabilitation process. The latter is now “gradually being integrated into team training from time to time.” Nassim Boujellab must continue to take a break due to his broken toe, unlike Julian Kania (back), who returned to full training on Friday.

While Christopher Lannert is “back in the game,” there is also positive news regarding Noah Joel Sarenren Bazee (muscular problems in the back of the thigh): Arminia expects the winger to “make a quick return” after his injury-related substitution.