Every year the start of the season is a bit of a lottery. How will teams start the new season? Who will be in the starting eleven for the first games? Friendlies can give you clues, but no complete answers. In the first round of the DFB-Pokal, Bundesliga sides play against teams that are already in a playing rhythm. The 2. and 3. Bundesliga clubs have already played two matchdays. The same can be said for SC’s opponents Osnabrück, who are now competing in the 3. Liga following relegation last season, and have not got off to a good start with two losses from their first two games.

"Osnabrück is not the opponent, and the Stadion an der Bremer Brücke not the stadium, that you wish for in the first round. Despite two defeats, Osnabrück have already shown in their first two games of the season how unpleasant to play against and how physical they can be. We will have to play right at our limits in order to reach the second round,” said Schuster about SC’s first opponents, a team that they previously played in the Pokal during the 2021/22 season.

Christian Günter and Co. narrowly won that second round tie – winning via a penalty shootout. At the end of the season, SC were in the DFB-Pokal final. “I remember that well,” said Vincenzo Grifo about the previous clash with Osnabrück. “The atmosphere was fiery and it will be the same again on Saturday. Osnabrück obviously have nothing to lose.” Alongside Günter and Grifo, a few other current SC squad members played in that Pokal game three years ago. “It is an advantage that lots of our players already have experience of playing there,” highlighted Schuster.

Pleased with a good preseason

For the 39-year-old it is his first competitive game as head coach. There isn’t any trace of nerves, though: “I’m almost wondering to myself how I am so relaxed,” confessed Schuster, who sees the main reason for this being a good preseason. “The team have worked brilliantly, the coaching staff has come together well, everyone has accepted small alterations, and we are getting more into the details of it week by week.” When considering their first starting eleven of the season, the coaching staff will have to do without Noah Atubolu, Manuel Gulde and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh. Kiliann Sildillia, who won Olympic silver just last Friday and has slight muscular problems, as well as new signing Eren Dinkci, who has recently been out with a groin issue, are both doubts.

“After preseason, you always have players with muscular issues, that’s part of the game,” said Schuster. “We don’t have any long-term injuries which helps us to feel good as a team before we turn to the serious business for the first time this weekend.” Schuster’s side will be accompanied in his first competitive game by a sold-out away end of 1,500 SC fans.