The white-blue timetable for ascent

Created: 04/03/2022Updated: 04/03/2022 16:29

By: Uli Kellner

Optimistic in the final sprint: 1860 coach Michael Köllner is now officially talking about promotion.

© Imago

With the home game against Saarbrücken, the final spurt in the promotion battle begins for TSV 1860, which coach Michael Köllner has now officially announced.

The 3rd league is entering the home straight - and Michael Köllner spoke for the first time what many fans want and what was always an internal topic.

"We want to top our last season," said the lion coach during the week when he - well recovered from the Aubstadt bankruptcy - switched to attack mode.

For Köllner's team, which is lying in wait in sixth place, the personnel situation remains tense (up to ten absentees), but the situation at the top of the table has become clearer.

After the unknowns have disappeared from the complex calculation of promotion (türkgücü points, catch-up games), the lions now know exactly what to do.

Namely: In seven remaining games, four or six points in third place (Braunschweig) or second place (Kaiserslautern).

"There are still 21 points up for grabs," Köllner calculated on Friday.

Otherwise he tried to downplay the explosiveness caused by Saarbrücken's table downgrade as a result of the Türkgücü bankruptcy.

"We can't help it that Türkgücü had to stop playing in the end," argues the coach.

"I don't hope that perpetrators and victims will be mixed up.

We are glad that we are the beneficiaries and will try to make the best of it.

32nd round

(Saturday/Sunday)

New edition of the promotion relegation from 2018 - and again a game with a final character: The lions have to deal with Saarbrücken, which is one point better off, but sees itself cheated by the DFB by six Türkgücü points.

This is a game to get through unscathed, although a draw might not be enough given who the competition is up against.

Lautern and Braunschweig host relegated teams (Duisburg and Havelse respectively), Mannheim take on Zwickau, who have only won four times at home.

Osnabrück's game in Halle was canceled due to the corona.

Prognosis/Outlook: It will be difficult for 1860 to catch up, the bid of the day is to stick with it.

Round 33

(April 8-11)

1860 has to go to Freiburg II, which is no longer a team you can beat 6-0 (like in the first half of the season).

Good for the lions: There is a direct duel (Saarbrücken vs. Mannheim), and Braunschweig also has a difficult game (in Wiesbaden), while Kaiserslautern (in Würzburg) and Osnabrück (derby against Verl) should have few problems.

Prognosis/Outlook: It is possible to catch up, assuming a lion victory in Freiburg.

34th round

(Easter weekend)

The next direct duel for 1860 (Osnabrück) - another takes place at Betzenberg (Lautern vs. Saarbrücken).

Braunschweig has an easy home game (Würzburg), Mannheim against Freiburg II a feasible one.

Prognosis/Outlook: A home win for 1860 would be important, otherwise the connection to the top could be lost.

Round 35

(April 22-25)

Braunschweig is without a game, other candidates for promotion take away points from each other (Osnabrück vs. Mannheim) or have difficult tasks (Kaiserslautern in Wiesbaden).

Prognosis/outlook: If they win in Duisburg, it could be THE weekend for the lions – but also for 1. FC Saarbrücken (against Verl).

36th round

(around May 1st)

Only three matchdays left - and everyone can score triple points this weekend.

The lions in their supposedly simplest task – at home against Havelse.

Kaiserslautern (against Dortmund II), Braunschweig (against Magdeburg, which could already have been promoted) and Mannheim (against Duisburg) also have home games.

Saarbrücken (near Viktoria Berlin) and Osnabrück (near Freiburg II) have to compete away from home.

Prognosis/Outlook: Anyone who stumbles now has only themselves to blame.

Round 37

(May 6-9)

Also on the penultimate match day, all promotion contenders go separately to hunt for points.

1860 has to go to Magdeburg, which as the designated champions wants to celebrate one last home party (in front of more than 30,000 fans).

With the exception of Saarbrücken (at home against Zwickau), all other competitors have to play abroad: Kaiserslautern in Cologne, Braunschweig in Meppen, Osnabrück in Havelse, Mannheim in Wiesbaden.

Prognosis/Outlook: In order to stay tuned, 1860 has to perform as a party crasher in Magdeburg.

Round 38

(May 14)

The grand finale.

Will the Löwen home game against Dortmund II become a promotion party?

Kaiserslautern is free of play, so they have to watch what the competition is doing and hope that the points they have collected will be enough.

Braunschweig has Cologne as a guest, Osnabrück welcomes Magdeburg, Mannheim expects Havelse.

Only Saarbrücken (in Freiburg) has to go away.

Prognosis/Outlook: Anything is possible – even that Giesing is shaking like it was last time in May 2018. And should it not be enough for promotion: the opponents of relegation would be Dynamo Dresden as of now.