3. Liga: Saarbrücken without goalkeeper Menzel - Thoelke uncertain for Aachen clash
Goalkeeper Menzel absent in Saarbrücken's match in Aachen; Thoelke's participation uncertain - Aachen's Saarbrücken faces goalkeeper uncertainty with Menzel's absence - Thoelke's status unclear
Hey there! Let's chat about some footy action happening in the 3. Liga. FC Saarbrücken, one of the top contenders for promotion, is dealing with a bit of a setback as their goalkeeper, Phillip Menzel, will be out for the remaining matches due to a body inflammation. The club's official statement confirmed this unfortunate news.With Menzel sitting this one out, Tim Paterok will be stepping up to guard the goal against Alemannia Aachen this Saturday (14:00/MagentaSport).
It seems Bjarne Thoelke (infection) might also miss out on this crucial match. Calogero Rizzuto, who picked up a yellow-red card, is definitely out. However, coach Alois Schwartz can count on Kasim Rabihic again. The goal-scoring midfielder has recovered from his muscular issues.
As for Aachen, Saarbrücken aims to bolster their promotion aspirations while safeguarding their relegation position. Schwartz couldn't care less about Dresden or Bielefeld snagging the promotion spots. "We focus on what we can control. That's our game. We want to win in Aachen. We don't keep an eye on other places," the FCS coach shared.
Menzel's Absence
Just to give you a heads-up, the absence of a seasoned goalkeeper like Menzel could potentially shake things up a bit for Saarbrücken. But without knowing how he performed in previous games or how his replacement, Paterok, fares in the arena, it's tough to predict the exact impact on their promotion chances.
- Current League Standing: As it stands, Saarbrücken is currently ranked fourth in the 3. Liga, prospecting promotion but facing fierce competition from teams like Dynamo Dresden, Arminia Bielefeld, and Energie Cottbus[4].
- Recent Performance: Saarbrücken recently faced Dynamo Dresden, resulting in a 1-4 loss that may have slightly dented their morale and performance[2]. However, this doesn't directly equate to the team's performance without Menzel specifically.
- Match Against Aachen: The game between Aachen and Saarbrücken took place on May 10, 2025, but we're missing the exact score and Menzel's status from the available information[1].
[1] Source: Footy.news
[2] Source: GermanFootballUpdate
[3] Source: SaarbrückenFC
[4] Source: 3LigaStandings
- The absence of Phillip Menzel between the posts could pose a challenge for Saarbrücken, as they seek to maintain their strong position in the 3. Liga.
- Bjarne Thoelke's potential absence alongside Menzel could further complicate matters for Saarbrücken, as they aim to boost their promotion aspirations and safeguard their relegation position.
- With Tim Paterok set to take Menzel's place in goal, questions remain about how this change might affect Saarbrücken's community of players and overall team dynamics.
- Saarbrücken's committed community of fans will be eagerly anticipating the upcoming clash against Aachen, hoping that their team can maintain their goal of promotion despite the changes in the squad.