Under-pressure Ende returns to Münster on short rest
Preußen Münster welcome Fortuna Düsseldorf to a sold-out LVM-Preußenstadion on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, in the midweek ninth round of the 3. Liga. It is a homecoming for Fortuna coach Alexander Ende, who was in charge in Münster until March, and it comes at a difficult moment: Düsseldorf are tenth with 11 points, and local reports say the club’s leadership has discussed his position. Münster are eighth on 12 points. Kick-off is at 19:00, with Felix Prigan the referee.
“Die Jungs sind nicht mit Druck belegt, sondern zuversichtlich.” – Fortuna Düsseldorf coach Alexander Ende
Predicted lineups: Münster vs Düsseldorf
Münster report no fresh injury concerns, although Ryan Johansson missed the Essen game injured. Joshua Mees, back after a serious injury picked up on the opening day, scored the equaliser off the bench on Friday and gives Münster another attacking option. Düsseldorf are without Meiser, Czako, Heintz, Eixler and Amaniampong, and Eric Hottmann is a doubt with a cold, with a decision due after the final training session. Hendrix, Bouchama and Benger all face their former club.
Preußen Münster Team News & Preview
Münster have not won in three league games, but they have also not lost at home. Their four home games have produced a 2-1 win over Havelse and draws with Ingolstadt (1-1), Saarbrücken (3-3) and Essen (3-3). Friday’s draw with Essen was a typical Münster game: Wörle’s side went 2-0 up and looked the better team in the first half, then fell 3-2 behind with three goals in four minutes, before rescuing a point through Mees in the 87th minute.
The defensive record is the weakness. Münster have conceded two goals per game, and coach Wörle admitted that letting in so many is not the plan. But they also score freely at home, with nine goals in four games, and Ndikom has four league goals. With five days to prepare compared with Düsseldorf’s three, the conditions also favour the hosts.
What works for or against Münster
- Unbeaten in four home league games: one win and three draws.
- Five days of rest, compared with about 71 hours for Düsseldorf.
- Conceding two goals per game this season.
- Winless in three league games, but came from 3-2 down to draw with Essen.
Fortuna Düsseldorf Team News & Preview
Düsseldorf’s problem is in front of goal. They have scored only eight league goals in eight games, and on the road they have managed three in four matches: a 2-1 defeat at Mannheim, a goalless draw at Fortuna Köln, a 2-1 win at Regensburg and a 1-0 loss at Aachen. Sunday’s 2-2 home draw with Verl, in which Fortuna led twice, drew calls for Ende to go from parts of the crowd, and the club have won only five of their last 13 league games since mid-April.
Ende has pushed back, saying the negative picture outside does not match the mood in the dressing room. Fortuna’s defensive record of nine goals conceded is one of the better ones in the division, but with five players injured and Hottmann a doubt, they also arrive with the shorter recovery time after Sunday’s evening kick-off.
What works for or against Düsseldorf
- Only three goals in four away league games.
- Just nine goals conceded in eight games.
- Five players injured and Hottmann a doubt.
- Around 71 hours of rest after Sunday's game against Verl.
Münster vs Düsseldorf Odds
Match Result
Double Chance
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Munster vs. Dusseldorf Stats Comparison
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Munster vs. Dusseldorf Form Guide
Munster Form, Stats & Data
Münster score 1.88 goals and concede two per game, which makes them one of the more open sides in the league. At home that has translated into high-scoring draws rather than defeats, and with Ndikom, Makridis and the returning Mees they have enough attacking options to trouble a Düsseldorf defence that has to play on short rest.
Dusseldorf Form, Stats & Data
Düsseldorf average exactly one goal per game, and their top scorer Schleusener has only two. The defence is solid at 1.13 goals conceded per game, which is why their matches tend to be tight, but a side that struggles to score away from home is not one I want to back to win at Münster’s ground.
Münster vs Düsseldorf: Prediction & Betting Tip
Düsseldorf are favourites on reputation and squad quality, but the specifics of this game point the other way. Münster are unbeaten at home, have had two extra days to recover, and face a visiting side that has scored three goals in four away games and whose coach is under real pressure. I expect Münster to make this awkward in front of a full house, and the Double Chance covers both a home win and the kind of draw that has been common at this ground.
The strongest counter-argument is Münster’s defence. They concede two per game and let in three in four minutes against Essen on Friday, so a Düsseldorf side with a decent defence and an extra motivation for Ende could nick a win. Even so, Fortuna’s lack of goals and their short turnaround make me happy to side with the hosts not losing.
My main bet is Preußen Münster or Draw (Double Chance) at 1.56 with Winz. My correct-score pick is 1-1.