Ferencváros and Videoton battle it out at top of NB I

Thomas Doll’s team have certainly begun the spring in goalscoring form, notching five against reigning champions Honvéd as well as against Balmazújváros, albeit with a 2-1 reverse away to Diósgyőr sandwiched in between. Hungary international striker Dániel Böde has scored an impressive six goals in those three games – form which has seen him included in Georges Leekens’ Hungary squad alongside teammate Roland Varga – with Joseph Paintsil also getting on the scoresheet.

Videoton brought in Stefan Šćepović over the winter break and the Serbian striker has bagged two goals in two games as he settles into playing in the same team as brother Marko once again. His first  - a fine header – proved to be the winner against Vasas, whilst his second came against Diósgyőr after fellow Serb Danko Lazović had put Vidi two goals up and on their way to a comfortable 4-1 victory.

Another team which has started the spring well is Újpest, whose two victories in three games seeing them draw level on points with third-place Debrecen. Soma Novothny got the only goal of the game at home to Haladás in round 20, following it up with another in a 2-3 reverse against Mezőkövesd. He then added his third in three games as the Lilák won 3-2 against András Herczeg’s side at the Nagyerdei Stadion courtesy of a late Patrick Tischler winner.

Last season’s champions Honvéd  have been struggling of late, losing to Ferencváros and Vasas whilst their game against Videoton will be played at a later date. A rare bright spot of the spring so far has been the goalscoring form of last season’s top scorer Márton Eppel. Vasas, third last season, finally ended a run of ten matches without a win with that victory over Honvéd but sit only a point above the relegation places.

Things are just as tight at the bottom of the table. Mezőkövesd, having begun the spring season four points from safety and in 12^th place, followed a 0-0 draw against Puskás Akadémia with wins away to Újpest and, perhaps crucially, in a six-pointer at home to Haladás, are now level on 23 points with the Szombathely team as well as with Balmazújváros.