RECKLINGHAUSEN, Germany (Interstat) — 1. FFC Recklinghausen will host SGS Essen II on Saturday in a Regionalliga matchup that pits two sides heading in opposite directions.

Recklinghausen (7-6-5) enters the game on a high after a 1-0 victory at Gutersloh on May 10, its second win in three matches. That result snapped a three-game losing streak that included a 6-0 thrashing at Borussia Dortmund on March 22 and a 3-1 home loss to Fortuna Koln on May 3. Dominique Schmidt’s squad has been inconsistent, scoring just 2 goals in its last five outings while conceding 12.

SGS Essen II (8-4-6) arrives with momentum, having crushed Borussia Mönchengladbach II 5-0 on May 10. That win was the club’s third in four matches and featured a dominant attacking display. Yvonne Müller’s side has been explosive, netting 15 goals in its last five games. The reserve team boasts a potent offense, but its defense has been porous, giving up 11 goals over the same stretch.

Essen II’s recent form includes a 6-1 loss at 1. FC Koln on May 3, a 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen on April 26, and a 2-1 win at SSV Rhade on March 15. Earlier in the season, the team also notched a 2-0 win at Gladbach II in October, drew 3-3 at home with Koln, and lost 3-2 at Leverkusen.

Recklinghausen’s other results this season include a 2-0 home loss to Koln on Nov. 30, a 1-1 draw at Gutersloh on Oct. 26, a 4-1 loss at Fortuna Koln on Oct. 19, a 2-0 home win over SSV Rhade on Oct. 12, and a 2-1 win at DJK Wacker Mecklenbeck on Oct. 5. Both victories came earlier in the campaign.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 2-2 draw, reflecting the teams’ contrasting trajectories. Recklinghausen will lean on its sturdy back line, which has kept two clean sheets in May. Essen II will rely on its high-scoring attack, which has averaged 3 goals per game over the last four contests.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. local time at Stadion Recklinghausen. The match carries playoff implications for both sides, as Essen II sits fifth in the table and Recklinghausen is seventh, six points behind with four games remaining.