When they see Saarbrücken again, the Löwen want to defend first place in the table.
May 27, 2018 - something like the new 1966 for younger Löwen supporters. According to contemporary witnesses, the spontaneous jubilation after promotion to the 3rd division does not have to hide from the championship corso 54 years ago, and in fan circles 778 days are enough then a city name to evoke all these pleasant memories: Saarbrücken!
The Bierofka-Elf won the first leg away 3: 2, in the second leg three days later Mölders and Seferings shot TSV 1860 into luck (2: 2 after 0: 2) - and back into professional football.
Before meeting the defeated opponent from back then, it is Jan Mauersberger who opens his head cinema on behalf of the heroes of the rise.
“The first thing that comes to mind is the sea of fans, the storm on the square, the party at Candidberg,” says the ex-professional, who now works in the marketing department: “It was a turning point in recent history from 1860 - and for me even more emotional as the second division promotion with Karlsruhe. "
Michael Köllner, the soccer junkie, also sat in front of the TV on both days in May 2018.
His impression: “Sixty made it in the end thanks to a brutal will and team effort.
Half or maybe all of Giesing was upside down afterwards.
Those were impressive pictures and videos that friends from Munich sent me from the promotion ceremony. "
The new edition on Wednesday evening will inevitably be less emotional.
Fans currently only have to buy a symbolic ticket (called “12th man ticket”) - and the team has to provide their own adrenaline rush, which shouldn't be difficult with the constellation first against third in the table.
"We are very happy that we are one of three unbeaten teams," says Köllner and expects Saarbrücken to no longer be one of these three teams after the game: "We will get three points because we will really accelerate again. “Just to be able to enjoy the view from the top a little longer.
"The table can stay that way for months," says Köllner with a grin, but admits that it "may not reflect the current level of performance in the 3rd division." For the coach, it is no problem to admit that his lions in Rostock ( 1: 1) were favored by luck.
“We could have lost 1: 2, 1: 3,” he says.
Thanks to the new virtues - “team spirit, solidarity” - it did not turn out like this: “Last year”, he is sure, “we would not have scored any more points”.
In terms of personnel, the situation has relaxed before the first third division top duel with Löwen participating: Daniel Wein (horse kiss) is back in training - as is Leon Klassen, who could replace the suspended Phillipp Steinhart.
Köllner did not want to reveal whether he was only going to change something at the back left or immediately choose a new tactic - but he promised the fans one thing on the TV: “It will be 90 minutes in the box - and then we'll see what comes out. "
Jan Mauersberger is certain that May 27, 2018 will also play a role on October 21, 2020.
“Of course you look forward to a game like this more than any other - if only because of all the wonderful memories.
If I were still a player, that would definitely motivate me even more. "