ESSEN, Germany (Interstat) — Rot-Weiss Essen will host Verl 1924 II on Saturday, May 9, in a 3. Liga matchup at Stadion an der Hafenstraße, with both teams arriving in sharply contrasting form.

The visitors enter the match on the back of a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Havelse on May 2, one of their most dominant performances this season. That result snapped a two-game losing streak for Verl 1924 II, who had previously fallen 2-1 at Osnabruck on April 25 and suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Ennepetal on April 26.

Verl’s recent form has been erratic. Over their last 11 matches dating to March 21, they own a 4-6-1 record, with three of those wins coming by shutout. Their defense has been capable of stretches of stinginess, but inconsistency in attack — including three consecutive losses from March 22 to April 5 — has left them searching for a sustained run.

R-W Essen, by contrast, is reeling. A 6-1 thrashing at Stuttgart on May 2 was their heaviest defeat of the season. It extended a troubling pattern for the hosts, who have lost three of their last four matches overall. In that span, they have conceded 13 goals, including a 5-3 loss at Energie Cottbus on April 19.

Despite the defensive struggles, Essen’s attack has shown occasional firepower. Prior to the Stuttgart blowout, they had scored four goals in a 4-1 win over Ingolstadt II on April 11 and followed with a 3-1 victory at FT Schweinfurt on April 7. Over their past 10 matches, they own a 6-4-0 record, though their schedule has been a mix of strong results and defensive lapses.

The most recent meeting between the sides, Dec. 13, 2025, ended in a 0-0 draw at Verl.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 2-2 draw.

Both teams are scheduled to play again May 16. Verl 1924 II hosts 1860 Munchen II, while R-W Essen travels to Ulm. With playoff positioning in the 3. Liga potentially on the line, Saturday’s contest offers each side an opportunity to build momentum — or dig a deeper hole.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. local time.