Top performers at Stegen: Noah Gietl. © David Laner

Suddenly relegation battle again: How does Stegen deal with it?

Floodlit game day in the Oberliga: The 21st round of the highest regional league takes place on Wednesday evening. The focus is particularly on Stegen, which is in crisis.

March 06, 2024

From: det

Confident relegation last year, impeccable first half of the season: Stegen - one had the feeling - is slowly but surely becoming a constant in the top league. But recently things haven't been going so smoothly for the Pusterers, who are often considered the number 1 relegation candidate before the start of the season. In five games of the second half of the season there were just two points for Manuel Sullmann's team, which is why Stegen slipped back into the relegation quagmire. The relegation places are only two points away.

But you don't panic in the Bruneck suburb. “We prepared ourselves for a tough relegation battle from the first matchday until the last matchday. Of course the first half of the season was good with 19 points and it's a shame that we gave up the cushion. But the team sees it very realistically and is not surprised that we are back in the relegation battle,” says coach Manuel Sullmann.

“I have the feeling things are looking up again.” Manuel Sullmann

Why are things suddenly not going so well at Stegen? “The preparation wasn't optimal due to several absences, and that has now carried over into the championship. We also have a young team. But,” says Sullmann, “I have the feeling that things are looking up again. Even if it doesn't reflect Sunday's result (0:3 against Lavis, editor's note), I see an upward trend.

The shoe pinches when attacking

Stegen needs to improve, especially on offense, as they have only scored one goal in five games so far. “The strange thing is that we had our chances in every match. “It often doesn’t take much for the knot to unravel,” says Sullmann optimistically. On Wednesday, Stegen will be visiting FC Obermais as part of the week's matchday, who are also not having their best phase at the moment.

The eyes will also be on St. Pauls on Wednesday: after the derby win against Tramin, the Überetscher lead the rankings together with Lavis. Now the Blue-Whites will face Anaune away, while Lavis Partschins is a guest. Tramin, third in the table, faces Dro at home.

Oberliga, 21st matchday (Wednesday, 20 p.m.)

Anaune – St. Paul’s
Bozen FC – Levico
Comano – Vipo Trento
Lavis – Partschins
Obermais – Stegen
Naturns – Rovereto
St. Georgen – Lana
Tramin – Dro