Before top match in Cottbus: Diplomat Geyer wants a draw

Eduard Geyer is delighted with Energie Cottbus' soccer under coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz. The former coach even sees a change in the long-standing balance of power ahead of the top match in the 3rd division against Dynamo Dresden. "Dynamo Dresden were always a figurehead of GDR soccer, Cottbus were always provincial. This time the omens are a little different, especially after Cottbus' convincing win in Bielefeld and Dynamo's defeat against Viktoria Köln," said the 80-year-old, who used to coach both clubs.

For Geyer, the match on Saturday (2.00 pm/Magentasport, mdr and rbb) is also a premiere - the first time the duel is a top-of-the-table clash between the first and second-placed teams. "In the past, Dynamo were usually the favorites until Cottbus were promoted," said Geyer.

Despite the changed omens, the last national team coach of the GDR does not see a "real favorite", but Cottbus "have to pull things out at home if they want to get promoted", said Geyer, who is impressed by the "convincing soccer" of Wollitz's team: "We are all surprised. But it's good for soccer when there are teams that cause surprises - especially the way they played."

Dynamo in a "corset"

In contrast, Geyer believes Dynamo "sometimes lack the absolute will to win". The former coach cites Atletico Madrid's performance in the Champions against Bayer Leverkusen as a benchmark: "They are armed to the teeth and try to win by any means necessary." Atletico turned the game around to win 2:1 despite being outnumbered. "I expect Dynamo to come out of their corset and bite and scratch a bit," said Geyer.

A further complication for the Elbe club is that they will have to replace two regular players in Lausitz, the injured Vinko Sapina and the suspended top scorer Christoph Daferner. Cottbus will be without goal scorer Timmy Thiele. Cottbus have only lost one of their last 16 games and have now climbed from the bottom of the table to the top of the league with 37 points.

Dynamo way ahead in the statistics

However, Cottbus still have some catching up to do compared to Dynamo. Dynamo have triumphed four times in the five matches in the third tier, while Cottbus have won once. In total, Dresden have won 23 out of 38 matches, with the points staying in Lusatia seven times, including in the first encounter in the GDR top division.

The excitement is unchanged. "I've been looking forward to it for a few weeks. The game was sold out within two hours," said Geyer, who will be in the stadium on Saturday. The retired footballer answers the question he has heard a hundred times about who he thinks will win "diplomatically": "A draw helps both and is not all that bad. You still have a pretty good cushion over fourth and fifth place."