Fighting in a long-distance duel to stay in the league: Luca Consalvo (Brixen, on the ball) and Weinstraße Süd. © www.runggaldier.it / Dieter Runggaldier

All or nothing: The voices before the major league showdown

The relegation battle has always been the icing on the cake of the championship in the Oberliga. But it has rarely been as explosive, as exciting, as treacherous as this year. Before the last match day, no relegation team has been determined - and five teams still have to worry. We asked the South Tyrolean representatives.

14 May 2023

From: det

Arco with 27 points, Weinstraße Süd and Brixen with 28 points each, St. Pauls with 30, Lana with 31 – the last five Oberliga teams are within four points before the final matchday. It couldn't be more exciting!

In the past few days, the slide rules at the affected clubs have probably been in constant use, as there are numerous if-then scenarios. The fact is: the last three teams will be relegated, at least two of them come from South Tyrol. It remains to be seen whether the relegation trio will be decided on Sunday, because if two teams have the same points, there will be a playoff. Read the exact scenarios here.

Trembling, fearing and hoping: That's the mood among the South Tyrolean teams. We spoke to the service providers in advance.

Wine Route South towards Lana

This is the only direct duel on the last matchday. “All week we did nothing other than calculate the constellations,” explains Michael Palma, head of defense at Weinstraße Süd. “The starting position is clear: We have to win and see what happens in the other places. Of course there is a lot of tension at a moment like this. In the 2016/17 season, I was relegated from the Oberliga with Weinstraße Süd on the last match day. Now I hope that we can stay up at the last moment this year.”

Is Weinstraße Süd still in the class? © www.runggaldier.it / Dieter Runggaldier

While the South Wine Route is doomed to win, the starting position for Lana is different. “Two out of three results are enough for us,” says Andreas Nicoletti. What he means by that: With a draw the Burggräfler are saved, with a win anyway. Nicoletti, who is actually Lana's captain, has not been able to take part for a few weeks due to the lack of a medical certificate, but he is keeping his fingers crossed for his team from the stands.

SSV Brixen against Obermais

Brixen has been playing in the top league for 23 years now. But now there is a threat of relegation. The people of Domstadt are challenged in the South Tyrolean duel against Obermais. For the people of Merano it's all about nothing, but you shouldn't expect any gifts. “Will and commitment will be crucial. We all have to push ourselves to our limits,” says Brixen striker Luca Consalvo combatively.

“I didn’t expect us to be so far behind this year.” Luca Consalvo

The photographer admits: “I didn’t expect us to be so far behind this year. The situation is not easy for us either, but now we are there and we have to do everything we can to stay in the league.” In any case, Consalvo has good memories of Obermais. “When I was still playing in the regional league in Stegen, we were able to save ourselves against Obermais once.”

St Paul's vs Comano

In contrast to Brixen and Weinstraße Süd, St. Pauls still has its fate in its own hands. The Überetscher were at the bottom of the league after the first half of the season, but made a strong comeback in the second half of the season and can seal relegation against Comano with a win - sometimes a draw or even a defeat.

Can St. Pauls also celebrate on Sunday?

“The mood in the team is good,” said captain Hannes Ohnewein. “We lacked experience in the first half of the season, but then we were able to turn things around. The cup win gave us a boost and we scored some important victories in the second half of the season.” Why St. Pauls will save itself? “Because we win on Sunday!”, Ohnewein says resolutely.

Oberliga, 30th matchday – Sunday at 16 p.m

Brixen – Obermais
Wine Route South – Lana
St. Paul's - Comano
Arco – Stegen
St. Georgen – Anaune
Lavis – Bozner FC
Vipo Trento – Tramin
Rovereto-Mori

State league, 18th matchday

Saturday
Bruneck – Salurn 2-0
Goals: 1:0 Aaron Falkensteiner (36th), 2:0 Lukas Hochwieser (91st)

Gitschberg Jochtal – Naturns 1:5
Goals: 0:1 Thomas Nischler (7th), 0:2 Fabian Nischler (25th), 1:2 Lukas Hofer (penalty/53rd), 1:3 Lukas Schöpf (62nd), 1:4 Michael Cia ( 78th), 1:5 Alex Spechtenhauser (penalty/91st)

SC Passeier – Albeins 2:2
Goals: 0:1 Dennis Fanani (47th), 1:1 Noah Pixner (50th), 2:1 Theo Hofer (63rd), 2:2 Lukas Plaickner (75th)

Ridnaun Valley – Terlan 2:2
Goals: 1:0 Lukas Obex (37th), 1:1 Felix Thurner (63rd), 1:2 Felix Lintner (67th), 2:2 Elias Gasser (76th)

Milland – Laives 1-1
Goals: 1:0 Amadeus Wachtler (1st), 1:1 Luca Cappelletto (13th)

Partschins – Schenna 6:2
Goals: 0:1 Klaus Illmer (19th), 1:1 Olaf Stark (23rd), 2:1 Daniel Lanthaler (40th), 3:1 Daniel Lanthaler (44th), 3:2 Florian Dosser (61st). ), 4:2 Daniel Lanthaler (68th), 5:2 Daniel Lanthaler (85th), 6:2 Sebastian Kuen (92nd)

Sunday, 16 a.m
Ahrntal – Eppan
Latsch – St. Martin Moos

The table