Step aside, gentle listeners. The NB I calendar might say it’s just another Saturday, but in Miskolc, the temperature is rising, and it’s not just the autumn chill. October 25 at DVTK Stadion: Diosgyori VTK vs Paks. On paper, it’s beauty versus the beast—though which is which depends on where you sit and how many goals your side has managed lately. If you’re looking for subtlety in the standings, you’re better off squinting. First versus tenth; unbeaten versus nearly winless; a leader staring down a team gasping for air at the wrong end of the table. It's the kind of fixture you circle in red, then pray for rain—or a miracle.
Let’s set the stage: Diosgyori VTK, sitting uncomfortably in 10th, have turned a 10-game stretch into something resembling a crime mystery—one win, five draws, four losses, and most of the clues missing. Eight points from ten matches, and not a single W in the last five league outings. If momentum were money, DVTK would be holding up empty pockets. Their last league triumph is so faint in the rearview, they might need GPS to find it. Recent results? A galling 1-3 tumble at Gyori, a toothless 0-1 against Kisvarda, and a pair of draws—one bore and one brawl. Their only smile came in the cup, with Ivan Šaponjić netting a double and Aboubakar Keita joining the party, but that was against Hódmezővásárhely, which is more confidence boost than barometer. Since then, they’ve averaged less than a goal per game, and the last clean sheet was an accident waiting to happen.
Meanwhile, Paks have been living the good life at the summit. First place, 20 points, and—wait for it—zero losses. Five victories, five stalemates, and the calm confidence of a side that expects good things and usually gets them. Their form is a little less shiny than it was a month back—three draws in the last four—but the grit remains. Recent scores include a 1-1 against Debreceni, a 2-2 away at Ferencvaros (with József Windecker showing up like a magician at the buzzer), and a thrilling 3-2 win over Puskas Academy—a game won by Gergő Gyurkits’s double and another late, late Windecker special. Cup form? Five-star, five-goal showing against Szajol. They’re averaging 0.6 goals against per game, which means their backline isn’t just holding the fort, it’s hosting afternoon tea.
So, with the plot thickening, who writes the next chapter? Key players could flip the script. For DVTK, Ivan Šaponjić has found the net when asked—if he can get the service, there’s hope. Bence Babos and Elton Acolatse have chipped in, but consistency takes more than cameos. Aboubakar Keita might provide the engine room spark, and if the hosts want something more than a polite round of applause, he’ll need to dictate play. For Paks, the names on everyone’s lips are Gergő Gyurkits, who’s hit a purple patch, and József Windecker, who’s collecting late goals like stamps. János Hahn and Milán Pető help round out an attack that likes to spread the love but isn’t above sending the big guns in when small talk won’t do.
The tactical chess match can’t be overstated. DVTK’s main hope is to frustrate, absorb, and counter—parking the bus, then praying the wheels hold. Their defense, usually about as sturdy as a paper umbrella, must find a backbone against a Paks side that moves the ball with patience and purpose. Paks, for their part, will look to stretch the game, lean on their midfield, and find the seams. Expect Paks to dominate the ball, though every spell of possession carries the risk of a quick DVTK break—especially if Keita or Acolatse see daylight. The opening twenty minutes will tell us plenty; if DVTK concede early, it could be a long evening for the faithful.
What’s on the line? For Paks, a chance to extend their unbeaten run and turn a good start into a title charge. With Gyori ETO, MTK, and Debrecen all lurking, every point is precious—especially away from home. For DVTK, this is survival in bold font. Relegation isn’t knocking, it’s rattling the windows. Lose, and suddenly those five draws look like anchors, not lifeboats. Win, and hope gets a new lease—maybe even a phone call from Lady Luck herself.
Prediction time? The odds makers are giving DVTK a polite nod and Paks a wink. Paks are the better side, full stop. But football’s charm is its refusal to follow scripts. DVTK play at home, desperate and dangerous; sometimes, the dog with nothing to lose bites hardest. Yet it’s tough to bet against form, class, and a defense that doesn’t do gifts. Expect Paks to do the business—maybe not by a rout, but by clinical efficiency. A late strike, a moment of quality, or, knowing Windecker’s taste for drama, a goal when the clock’s ready to clock out.
There’s your preview, folks. One side clinging to the script, another looking for a rewrite. By sundown, we’ll know if it’s more of the same, or Miskolc’s greatest plot twist. If there’s a lesson here? In football, as in life, sometimes the bottom feeder serves up the biggest surprise. And sometimes—just sometimes—the leader remembers why he’s king.