Quick look: NBI Round 3

It’s been a busy start to the NBI this season. 4 of our teams started out in Europe, 2 remain. Fradi continue their European adventure in the Europa league and will play Shamrock Rovers at the Groupama on 18 August in the play offs. MOL Fehérvár will travel to Köln for their Conference League play off round on 18 August.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 11494.png

Both teams are looking for their first win of the season, having both started with 2 draws. In their opener against Kecskemét, although Vasas played with a man advantage for most of the half, the game ended in a scoreless draw, in round 2 they drew 2-2 with Paks. DVSC started way to Kisvárda, with a 2-2 draw and followed that up with a 1-1 draw with Kecskemét last weekend.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 11788.png

The third meeting between the teams and comes almost 9 years to the day between their first meeting – a resounding 6-2 win for Mezőkövesd. KTE have started their league campaign with 2 draws, 0-0 at home to Vasas in Round 1 and 1-1 away to Loki in round 2. Mezőkövesd drew 1-1 with Újpest in round 1 and lost 4-2 away to Kisvárda in round 2. Milán Sági is available for KTE after serving a 1 match suspension in round 2, while Mezőkövesd will be without Schmiedl Philipp, who starts a 2 match suspension following his red card in round 2.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 13461.png

Újpest have had an indifferent start to the season and are currently sitting 11th in the table after a first round 1-1 draw home to Mezőkövesd and a 2-0 defeat away at Felcsút. On the plus side it is fantastic to see the proper coat of arms back after that thing that has been used for the past too many seasons! ZTE started the season with a 1-0 victory over Honvéd, their round 2 match home to Fradi was postponed to enable Fradi to concentrate on their European campaign.

Kisvárda have made a good start to the season and currently top the table. In the first round they drew 1-1 with DVSC and last weekend enjoyed a solid 4-2 at home to Mezőkövesd. Their European dream ended midweek despite a spirited 2nd Leg display, they were unable to overturn Molde’s 3-0 lead from the 1st leg. It was a good performance from them though and bowing out on a win will be good for their confidence. Felcsút on the other hand were the first team to end their European campaign, Vitória Guimarāes knocking them out 3-0 on aggregate. In the league they suffered a 1-0 away defeat to last season’s champions Fradi but followed that up with a 2-0 home win against Újpest. Felcsút are without Kribek Alen Martin, who is suspended for this match after his 2nd yellow card red last weekend.

The game of the round as our 2 European hopefuls battle it out at the Groupama. Fradi have a point to prove having been knocked out of the Champions League this week by Qarabag FK. Their European campaign is not over though as they face Shamrock Rovers next in the Europa League. They opened their league campaign with a 1-0 over Felcsút, Kristoffer Zachariassen sealing the victory on 90+4. Their 2nd round tie was postponed. Vidi sealed their place in the UEFA conference league playoffs with a solid 2-1 away win over FC Petrocub-Hîncești on Thursday, giving them a 7-1 aggregate. They face Bundesliga FC Köln in the playoffs. FC Köln will go into the matches as favourites but the very likeable Michael Boris is a great coach, he will prepare his team well and Vidi will certainly give it their all. In the league, they suffered a 2-0 defeat away at Paks on the opening weekend and followed it up with an emphatic 4-0 drubbing of Kispest last weekend. Boris has his team well drilled and playing fluidly as a unit.

Kispest have not been the same since George Hemmingway left, it has been all downhill since then. Last season they scraped staying in the NBI on the final day of the season and they are currently the only team without a point this campaign. An opening day 1-0 defeat at home to ZTE followed by the 4-0 away drubbing at Vidi last week. It already looks as if it is going to be a long season for Kispest. Come back please Mr Hemmingway… Paks started with a 2-0 home win against Vidi and were held in the second round to a 2-2 draw by league newcomer Vasas.