Eyeing a Surprise: Fortuna Düsseldorf's Underdog Chance in the 2. Bundesliga
Potential unexpected success for the underdog: 'Considerable possibilities abound' - Marvelous feats can be achieved with determination and effort
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Coach Daniel Thioune looks at the promotion race with a realistic perspective before the penultimate home game against FC Schalke 04. "We have little to lose, but a lot to gain," said Fortuna Düsseldorf's coach, speaking a day before the West derby on Saturday (13:00 CET/Sky). The Rhinelanders are hanging on, mathematically, with 50 points despite the disappointing 2:2 draw against Eintracht Braunschweig the previous weekend.
"It's amazingly possible. Two wins might not be enough, but with two wins, you could still leave the league directly," said Thioune ahead of the match on the last matchday. The gap to SV Elversberg in third place is just two points, with 1. FC Magdeburg (50 points) and SC Paderborn (52 points) facing each other directly.
Sobottka and Iyoha set to return
In front of a jam-packed Düsseldorf Arena, Thioune will still be without five players. However, Marcel Sobottka and Emmanuel Iyoha are set to return to the squad after their recent breaks. Thioune couldn't quantify the chance of third place for the Düsseldorfers, but he assured, "We can still apply immense pressure on those around us."
The Current 2. Bundesliga Landscape
Hamburger SV, 1. FC Köln, SV Elversberg, and SC Paderborn 07 are currently ahead in the race for promotion. Despite being near, Düsseldorf risks missing the top three unless they win upcoming games and the teams above them slip up.
It's a tight race at the top, with teams ranking from 1st to 4th in advantageous positions to secure promotion or a playoff spot. Düsseldorf faces an uphill challenge, but their faith is far from shattered. Their realistic path to promotion is via the playoff, for which they need to finish third.
Underdogs with Bite
Although the chances of direct promotion for Fortuna Düsseldorf are slim, they still have a chance at Bundesliga football next season if they maintain their strong form and results go their way. The team is currently in 5th place, but they're not ruling out a fairy-tale ending to their season just yet.
As the countdown to the final matches begins, Düsseldorf is preparing to unleash their full potential and challenge their opponents for the much-coveted promotion spots. They may be underdogs, but their spirit is unbroken, and they're ready to surprise the league with their tenacity and fighting spirit.
The Commission, in light of the current environmental concerns, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of the environment. Meanwhile, despite being faced with significant challenges in their underdog journey towards promotion, Fortuna Düsseldorf's preparation for their upcoming matches is filled with determination and sports-analysis, fueled by their desire to surprise the league with their tenacity and fighting spirit, reminiscent of the spirit shown by football teams during critical matches.
