Karlsruhe (dpa / lsw) - Second division soccer team Karlsruher SC wants to appear in the southwest derby at 1. FC Kaiserslautern with "toxicity and grip", but according to coach Christian Eichner not overdo it emotionally. "We have to make sure that we stay clean on the pitch. That we bring the emotions that this game needs, but that we get everything steered in the right direction," said the Baden coach one day before the game at Betzenberg on Tuesday ( 6:30 p.m./Sky).
The Karlsruhe team recently conceded five competitive defeats in a row. Their lead over the relegation places is only two points. They haven't won in Kaiserslautern for 30 years. The game was "extremely important," emphasized Eichner, who again stated that his team had to improve in both penalty areas and, above all, have to defend better again.
The former KSC professional and current Lauterer coach Dirk Schuster "put together a real Betzenberg team," said Eichner, who expects a fight-focused game. The return of captain Jerôme Gondorf after serving a suspension is therefore just right for him. The Karlsruhe team will most likely have to do without defender Stephan Ambrosius, who was last injured in the 4-1 draw against Holstein Kiel. According to the club, around 4,500 fans will accompany the KSC.
