Was the race to catch up in Buchbach (3: 2) in the Totopokal an initial spark?
At least there are some factors in 1860 that give hope for an end to the winless series.
The Lions have been waiting for a victory in the 3rd division for six games, the last three came on August 24th in a 3-0 win against Viktoria Köln.
Will it work on Saturday against the pandemic-damaged SV Waldhof Mannheim?
We have found six bright spots that speak for an end to the dark series.
Reinforced Lex
A statistic that gives courage: Two of the last seven 1860 goals go to the account of Stefan Lex. Okay, there were "only" hits in the Totopokal (2-0 in Burghausen, 2-2 in Buchbach), but at least you document that things are looking up with the sensitive striker, who was stuck in a deep performance gap for nine months.
A Lex in good shape is always helpful - coach Michael Köllner knows that, too, who publicly criticized the nimble Eittinger, but never really questioned his regular player status (29 out of 30 possible appearances since January).
Mölders as a wild card
There are supposed to be 1860 fans who deny the current squad its depth.
It is gratifying that at least the substitute bench has recently improved in quality.
Responsible for this: Sascha Mölders, 36, recently not in the starting line-up three times in a row.
What is certain is that the captain is not very happy with his bank seat.
But: He takes on the wild card - and can also push the team when he comes in.
See the home game against Berlin (Mölders to 1: 1) - and see Totopokal.
Also in the race to catch up in Buchbach (3: 2) was only biting in 1860, when Mölders caused emotions among fans and fellow players.
Linsbichler on the rise
His name was put for twelve months - in the notorious column “It is missing”, which newspapers like to print next to the alleged list.
Pubic bone inflammation, corona infection - the young Viennese has left (almost) nothing since Günther Gorenzel kicked him away from TSG Hoffenheim a good year ago.
What the sports director had promised his compatriot, the 21-year-old hints at more and more often: near-winning goal against Berlin, Wendetor in Buchbach (to 1: 1) - Linsbichler is more and more often using his lanky body profitably for the lions (1.93 m).
Now he just has to stay healthy.
The Dressel factor
In the 1-1 draw against Berlin, the substitute midfield dynamic contributed a considerable part to the final dominance of the Lions, in the Totopokal in Buchbach Dressel returned to the starting eleven and shot his team shortly before the end with the weaker right foot into the semifinals.
It is now important to build on this achievement.
As Dressel said recently in an interview: “I want to write a story at sixty, to achieve something special.
We all want to break something here this season and a lot is still possible. "
The intact morality
Two deficits made up, dubious referee decisions defied.
No wonder that Köllner emphasized the mental robustness of his team after the Zitterspiel in Buchbach: “Hats off that we keep coming back.
We're not in a high phase, but that's when games like this are important. ”Limitation: After the successful penalty shoot-out in the Totopokal against Burghausen a month ago, the lean 1-1 draw at Hallensern, who played ten for an hour.
Fan comeback
For the first time since February 29, 2020, 15,000 spectators are again allowed in the Grünwalder Stadium on Saturday.
Back then, the Lions won 4: 3 at the last minute against Chemnitzer FC (winning goal: Prince Owusu), a game that no one who has been there will soon forget.
The balance against Mannheim has also brightened.
Last season there were two wins, the 5-0 home game in December ended the series of six games without a win.
Is that a good omen?
