DEL preview: EHC Red Bull München welcomes the Straubing Tigers

Wednesday, 31. January 2024 | DEL preview: EHC Red Bull München welcomes the Straubing Tigers

Derby and top game: Red Bulls host StraubingDeSousa: "Need a strong performance over the entire duration of the game"// DEL - PRELIMINARY REPORTEHC Red Bull München will host the Straubing Tigers on Thursday (7:30 pm | LIVE on MagentaSport and in our blog) for their fourth clash of the season. Points and prestige - there's a lot at stake.

The derby is already sold out. However, you still have a small chance on our secondary market. Go to the event and click on the "Ticket exchange" button.

Excitement guaranteed

The derbies so far this season have all been fiercely contested. The Red Bulls scored the first goal each time, but the points went to Straubing three times. We now want to end this series. Our top scorer Chris DeSousa (16 goals) is calling for "a strong performance over the entire duration of the game". If that doesn't happen, "it won't be enough for a win".

3:2 | TOOOR! DeSousa staubt ab

// IN-GAME-VIDEO

DeSousa: "Have shown character"

Last Sunday, we were narrowly beaten in Mannheim (2:3). But our boys showed what they're made of, especially in the final 20 minutes. "We showed character," said DeSousa, commenting on the strong reaction to the 3-0 deficit at one stage. On Thursday, our team wants to build on the last period and return to winning ways with a derby victory.

Straubing with top odds in the Bavarian duels

It's also about closing the gap on the Straubing Tigers (third in the table). This is nine points ahead of the direct duel. "They have a lot of quality, work hard and are fast," says DeSousa. And coach Tom Pokel's team calls on these strengths, especially against their Bavarian rivals from Augsburg, Ingolstadt, Nuremberg and, unfortunately, Munich. Straubing have won twelve of 14 derbies this season.

Showpiece offensive defense

One guarantee of success for the Tigers is their firepower from the blue line. 38 goals scored by defenders are a clear DEL best ahead of Frankfurt (28). More than half of these goals are scored by Marcel Brandt and Nick Mattinen (twelve each), who together lead the Tigers' scoring charts. This makes the duo special: only Straubing has two defensive players in the top two places in the scoring charts.

They also have strong special teams. The Tigers have the second-best overpayment rate (22.7 percent) and the best underpayment rate in the league (89.8 percent). However, our boys have nothing to hide. We are only just behind them in both categories. There's a lot to be said for another exciting and intense duel.

DEL record against Straubing

Wins: 36 Defeats: 24 Winning percentage: 60 percent Goal difference: 184:154 Last game: RBM vs. STR: 2:4 Last ten games: N S S S S S N S N N N Last ten home games: S S S N S S S S N S S N