The relegation battle does not enjoy a good reputation because it is associated with rough defenders, dirty jerseys and moves that consist of so-called long and second balls. A lot of this is rightly attributed to the relegation battle, sometimes even the deformation of balls. But sometimes it can also produce beautiful moments, real joy and even a few meaningful entries for the table cellar survival manual. Sunday alone proved to be very productive in this regard, although there were classic relegation battle results between Heidenheim and Bochum (0-0) and between Hoffenheim and Mainz (1-1). But maybe that’s precisely why.
The Mainz team provided several beautiful moments. This wasn’t just due to their attractive style of play, which Marco Richter happily commented on, saying that they “played very, very well. It was really fun.” The interim lead through his first goal for Mainz did not contribute to the victory because his colleague Aymen Barkok missed a penalty after Robert Skov had equalized for Hoffenheim.
With Jonathan Burkardt’s comeback after a break of more than a year, the game also showed that the relegation battle can be fun. Bone marrow edema in the left knee required two operations and also challenged the attacker emotionally. At times he doubted whether he could continue his career, Burkardt reported, after he came on as a substitute in the final phase and later cried tears of joy in the arms of his girlfriend about his return. “Really a wonderful moment,” said the 23-year-old on Dazn, “it’s been such a long road and I’m just happy that I was able to be there again.”
The little zero times zero: “I enjoy it,” says VfL coach Letsch, a former mathematics teacher
The overarching goal of being in the Bundesliga next season is also being pursued by the natural relegation candidates Heidenheim, Bochum and Darmstadt. Economically, they have worse conditions for the transfer. Nevertheless, the two newcomers and the Bochum team, who are experienced in the fight for survival, have so far shown the stronger competition from Cologne, Berlin and Mainz how to hold their own in the bottom of the table. After twelve match days, Heidenheim, Bochum and Darmstadt are ahead of Mainz, Union and Cologne. Heidenheim in particular is on track with eleven points after a good third of the season. The roughly extrapolated 33 points at the end of the last six seasons were always at least enough for relegation.
On Sunday, Heidenheim and Bochum applied the basic rules of the relegation battle in word and deed, which came across as a small zero times zero. There was no hint of displeasure over the lowest possible result, although the game confirmed many clichés of the relegation battle, including long and second balls. But Heidenheim and Bochum know what they have in this 0-0 draw. “You can take a bite out of one point,” said Heidenheim’s coach Frank Schmidt. His captain Patrick Mainka calculated after the “early relegation battle” that they shouldn’t lose if they couldn’t win: “So Bochum will stay behind us for now.”
At VfL they calculate similarly and point to their successful squirrel method, with which they have earned six points in the last four games against Mainz, Darmstadt, Cologne and Heidenheim. Coach Thomas Letsch, a former mathematics teacher, likes how his team has followed the relegation battle manual so far. “The relegation battle is a good thing. It was new for me last year, but I enjoy it,” he said and ventured a prediction: “Last year it ended the way we all imagined it would. This year – too.”