3. Liga drama unfolds as Rostock shines and Aue's survival hangs by a thread
The 3. Liga saw dramatic results over the weekend, with teams battling for promotion and survival. Hansa Rostock secured a convincing 5–1 win over MSV Duisburg, while Energie Cottbus suffered their first defeat of 2026 in a 4–1 loss to Alemannia Aachen. Meanwhile, Erzgebirge Aue's struggles continued with a 4–2 defeat against Rot-Weiss Essen, pushing them closer to relegation.
Hansa Rostock dominated their match, with Emil Holten scoring twice in the 5–1 victory. Manager Daniel Brinkmann highlighted Holten's energy and influence, particularly in quick counter-attacks from deep positions. The win keeps Rostock two points behind the relegation playoff spot and three adrift of automatic promotion.
Energie Cottbus, previously unbeaten in 2026, fell to a heavy 4–1 defeat at Alemannia Aachen. Coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz criticised his side's wastefulness in attack and defensive errors, especially during transitions and set pieces. Despite controlling much of the game, Cottbus defender Dominik Pelivan admitted the result was fair. Erzgebirge Aue's relegation fears deepened after a 4–2 loss to Rot-Weiss Essen. Manager Christoph Dabrowski blamed individual mistakes and a lack of composure in the first half for the defeat. The result leaves Aue in serious danger of dropping into the Regionalliga Nordost.
Rostock's strong performance keeps their promotion hopes alive, while Cottbus must regroup after their first loss of the year. Aue, however, face an uphill battle to avoid relegation, with time running out to turn their season around.
