2. Bundesliga: Greuther Fürth confident ahead of the 'mother of all derbies'

Greuther Fürth coach Heiko Vogel is bracing for the intense atmosphere of the 277th Franconian Derby, describing the upcoming match against 1. FC Nürnberg as the "mother of all derbies." The home game in the 2. Bundesliga on Saturday is more than just three points; it's a crucial local rivalry match.

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It is a special game for three points. For me, it is the mother of all derbies.

Vogel has a respectable record in these fixtures, having achieved two draws in his previous two encounters with Nürnberg. His debut as Fürth's coach in December ended in a 2-2 draw in the 275th Franconian Derby, and his team secured another point with a 1-1 result in early May. Nürnberg's coach, Miroslav Klose, has also remained undefeated against Fürth during his two years in charge.

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The two derbies were okay, but that means there is still potential.

"The two derbies were okay, but that means there is still potential," Vogel commented, reflecting on his team's start to the new season. Greuther Fürth opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against relegated Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli. Vogel expressed confidence in his team's ability to challenge any opponent, stating, "We know that we can hurt any team."

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We know that we can hurt any team.

On the opposing side, Nürnberg's attack will likely focus on striker Mohamed Ali Zoma, who recently scored a hat-trick in their 3-0 victory over Dynamo Dresden. Vogel emphasized that containing Zoma is a collective defensive effort. "The good thing is that Zoma doesn't just play against one player, but against us as a team," he said, highlighting Fürth's strategy to defend as a unit against the young forward.

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The good thing is that Zoma doesn't just play against one player, but against us as a team.