Magdeburg's Atik: "Want to stay up there"

More clear chances, more possession, more control - but only a 1-1 draw and just one point. This could still be important for 1. FC Magdeburg in the final reckoning, as the competition from Elversberg, Paderborn and Düsseldorf also only managed draws, meaning FCM remain in the promotion relegation places after matchday 31.

Coach Christian Titz was initially right with his prediction. "The season will go on like this until the last matchday because the teams are so close together. And there will still be teams to face Hertha BSC - it was no coincidence that the result today was 1:1," Titz predicted at the press conference after the Hertha game.

Baris Atik as the linchpin of the FCM

Baris Atik was once again the linchpin of Magdeburg's play against Berlin's Hertha, who gave the impression throughout the game that they just wanted to get a point. The 30-year-old not only assisted Lubambo Musonda's goal, but - nominally at the head of a midfield pack - pulled the strings of the Elbe club's attacking play everywhere on the pitch. Their only shortcoming on Friday remained the exploitation of chances.

"We showed what we're capable of in terms of soccer and if we took our chances a little better, we were the better team," said Atik on Sky. He had missed one of those chances himself, was probably too surprised after a pass from Bryan Teixeira - by the ball and perhaps also by how free the Berliners had left him.

"Have to go one better"

Immediately after the game, Atik no longer wanted to stick to the defensive language of thinking game by game. "If we're up there, we want to stay up there. And we'll do everything we can to do that," said the Frankenthal native, adding: "We have to go one better and then we'll see what happens." Atik and Co will get their first opportunity to do so on Friday when Preußen Münster visit the Avnet Arena.

The still relegation-threatened Münster side are well suited to Magdeburg, with seven Magdeburg victories in eleven games and the last defeat dating back to 2002. Points against Preußen are likely to be essential for the Elbe club, as they face Paderborn and Düsseldorf - direct competition - on the final two matchdays. But it is also a fact that if Magdeburg win their games, the Blue-Whites can no longer be denied third place.