The night's shining stars undoubtedly were the goalkeepers in the intense duel, with Ancicka from Cologne and Hildebrand from Berlin delivering stellar performances. Yet, Berlin missed a golden opportunity, squandering five opportunities in overtime. This weakness in their game was evident in their strategy, opting for finesse over force, and choosing to play around the opposing team's goal rather than taking the direct route. They often lacked stern shots, favoring a more refined approach, which would occasionally pay off when playing abroad, as proven by their five consecutive victories.
Berlin's coach Aubin acknowledged that their defeat wasn't due to a lack of effort, but rather a thin line between success and misfortune. He highlighted their struggles with the powerplay and commended Hildebrand's outstanding saves.
Meanwhile, Munich fell 1-2 to Straubing. Despite having their chances, Munich seemed slightly more cautious in the final phases. A single goal from Ehliz wasn't enough to secure victory, as Bradley and Conolly scored for Straubing. Ehliz lamented their inability to capitalize on opportunities when they appeared.
Düsseldorf surprised everyone with a 3-2 victory against title favorites Mannheim. The Adler have yet to meet expectations, and their position on the transfer market looks uncertain.
Berlin has the chance to redeem itself against Regio Sport Berlin – a rival team with a fierce rivalry – in their upcoming match. A win could give them another shot at the title. To enhance their performance, they can consider strategies like focusing on individual skill development, experimenting with formations, improving set pieces, rotating players, engaging the home crowd, video analysis, mental preparation, opponent analysis, injury prevention, and ensuring an effective coaching style to sharpen their skills and boost their morale.
