More explosive is not possible: In the play-off quarter-finals of the Bayernliga, EA Schongau and TSV Peißenberg meet.
Peißenberg – In the championship round of the Bavarian league, the hoped-for clash did not work out.
The placement from the main round gave the "Peißenberg Miners" and the "Mammuts" of the EA Schongau different groups.
But the two district rivals are now dueling in the first play-off round of the Bayernliga.
Whoever loses is out - so the explosiveness is high.
"Everyone here is looking forward to this duel," says "Miners" coach Sepp Staltmayr before the best-of-three series in the quarterfinals against the neighbors.
Since the Peissenbergers finished Group A of the championship round in second place and were therefore better than the Schongauers (third in Group B), the "Miners" can start with a home game this Friday (8 p.m.).
The second game in Schongau follows on Sunday, March 5th at 5 p.m.
If no team has two wins by then, the decisive duel will take place on Tuesday, March 7th, and will be played again in Peißenberg.
TSV Peißenberg expects EA Schongau to start the series
"The games are of course something special for me, after all it's against my home club," admits Schongaus coach Markus Ratberger.
"But now my heart beats for EAS," emphasizes Ratberger.
In the Peißenberg ice rink, he has often been on the coaching bench for youth games - "but never on the away side", so this is a premiere for the 42-year-old.
Under Ratberger, the "mammoths" developed into real away specialists.
The Schongauers have not lost away from home since he took over as coach in December.
Ratberger would like to continue this series with the "Miners", although he knows that a tough nut is waiting for his squad.
"I see Peißenberg as one of the favorites, because of their good last games and in view of the scorer list," explains Ratberger.
"Miners" maintain their attack lines
However, the miners do not share this assessment.
"Schongau was ahead of us in the main round," remembers Staltmayr of the first part of the season, in which the Peissenbergers won the home game against the third-placed teammate Lech 4-1, but lost 2-4 away in front of a record crowd of over 1600 fans.
"We have similar teams, it will be a duel on an equal footing, in which the day's form decides," says Staltmayr, who expects his men to keep a cool head despite the presumably heated atmosphere.
"That means playing smart and avoiding penalties." Ratberger also gave his squad something similar along the way.
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In terms of personnel, the EAS coach cannot draw on the full.
Former Peißenberg Leo Zink and also license player David Kaiser are injured.
After Lubos Velebny is back, Ratberger can play with six defenders.
Denis Degenstein and Tim Vogl, who are ill, are missing from the “Miners”.
The use of goalie Thomas Zimmermann, who is plagued by a cold, is questionable.
"Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for Korbinian Sertl either," says Staltmayr, rejecting any hope of a comeback for his battered regular goalkeeper.
There will be no change in his team's attack lines.
"There's no reason for that, they've played well lately," says Staltmayr, looking at the strikers.
At EAS, on the other hand, changes cannot be ruled out, since a few players were not quite fit against Ulm and Ratberger had to rearrange something.
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"Now it would be nice if many EAS fans came, too," Ratberger hopes for proper support in the presumably well-occupied hall.
"There's nothing nicer than playing playoffs and derby in front of a great crowd," Staltmayr is confident that the stands will be full.
