Ruhrderby on Sunday: Duisburg fights against Essen for top spot!

Ruhrderby on Sunday: Duisburg fights against Essen for top spot!

Today there is a long-awaited duel in German football on the agenda: the Ruhr derby between MSV Duisburg and Rot-Weiss Essen. This exciting match will take place on Sunday, October 26th, 2025 at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena in Duisburg and will kick off at 7:30 p.m. The preliminary reporting starts at 7:15 p.m. on Magenta Sport, where Thomas Wagner as presenter and Markus Höhner as commentator will guide viewers through the exciting moments. And the betting odds promise a lot: a win for MSV is rated at 2.25, while the chances of RWE being successful are 2.90. A draw brings 3.60.

The sporting value of this game could not be higher, as Duisburg leads the 3rd league table with 24 points, but is only one point ahead of their pursuers. After a defeat against 1860 Munich, MSV is required to rehabilitate itself and achieve promotion to the second division. On the other hand, Rot-Weiss Essen is in sixth place with 19 points and has put itself in a good position with seven points from the last three games. Most recently, RWE was able to defeat Viktoria Köln 1-0, and key player Kaito Mizuta was impressive with eight goals. The comparison of the two teams is also exciting: out of a total of 36 matches, Duisburg won 14 and Essen won 11, with 11 draws. Particularly noteworthy: Duisburg has not yet managed to win against Essen in the 3rd league.

Shape curves in focus

MSV Duisburg has the fans behind them with a strong home record of four wins and one draw in their last five games. Despite this positive development, they have not been able to win against RWE in the last five matches and most recently suffered a defeat in the Lower Rhine Cup final against Essen. To ensure the greatest possible level of opportunity, both coaches will rely on their strongest lineup. At Duisburg we expect the following players: Braune in goal, supported by Bitter, Fleckstein, Hahn and Coskun in defense. Meuer, Bulic, Symalla, Viet and Sussek operate in midfield, while Töpken acts at the top.

However, Jannik Mause is missing from Rot-Weiss Essen due to muscular problems, which could at least mess up the team's plans somewhat. Their expected formation sees Golz in goal, behind a defensive line consisting of Kostka, Rios Alonso, Kraulich and Brumme. Gjasula, Moustier, Obuz and Arslan will operate in midfield, while Mizuta and Safi will hunt for goals in attack.

Betting tips and broadcasts

The betting markets are showing keen interest in this encounter. A tip on a win for Duisburg is offered with odds of 2.25 at bet-at-home, while for over 2.5 goals there is odds of 1.66 at NEO.bet. Fans and punters can look forward to an exciting and competitive derby that has both prestigious and sporting value. Particular attention is paid to the duels on the pitch, which in the third division have so far ended in RWE's favor with a record of four matches.

The Ruhr derby promises excitement, goal area scenes and a lot of drama. Who wouldn't want to be in the front row to see the action up close? It remains to be seen whether Duisburg can extend its strong home record or whether Essen will continue the series. But one thing is certain: the fans will enjoy it.

Further information about the game can be found at Betting base and MOPO.