Whose account will get the last three points of the year?
Essen's assistant coach Lars Fleischer declares war on 1860 and Papa Ralf from sponsor Stadtsparkasse.
Promotion candidates against climbers, traditional duel between two cult clubs - and right in the middle: a special kind of family reunion: Ralf Fleischer vs. Lars Fleischer.
One controls the fortunes of a Munich bank that sponsors TSV 1860, the other sits on the coaching bench of Rot-Weiss Essen, the Löwen opponents on Monday evening in the Grünwalder Stadion (7 p.m.).
To put it bluntly: the dad would like to book three home points, the son would like to kidnap them from "Fort Knox" Giesings.
For Ralf Fleischer, 59, the chairman of the Stadtsparkasse, one thing is certain: Die Löwen, supported by his employer as a premium partner, need the win more than the third division newcomer Essen, who after a weak start has recently come out stronger and stronger.
From a seat in the standing room, the banker will follow the duel between the traditional clubs - with the best view of the guests' bench, where son Lars, 28, the assistant coach of the promoted team, will take a seat.
"It's a very special game for me," says Ralf Fleischer full of anticipation: "On the one hand, as the Stadtsparkasse, we are a sponsor of 1860, on the other hand it's against my son, who is traveling with Rot-Weiss Essen.
An exciting constellation.” Lars Fleischer agrees: “There are a few games a year that you particularly look forward to.
Duisburg is one of them,
There are a few games a year that you look forward to.
Duisburg is part of that, Dresden – and the game at 1860. Of course also because my dad lives in Munich.
Lars Fleischer, 28, son of Stadtsparkasse board member and Löwen sponsor Ralf Fleischer, 59.
The fact that father and son meet as opponents is a first for the Fleischer family, which originally comes from Mülheim an der Ruhr.
It used to be common for both of them to keep their fingers crossed for the same club – neither the Löwen nor Rot-Weiss Essen, but Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Ralf Fleischer admits: "Actually, I'm a Gladbach fan and at some point I got my son to become one too." That's right, confirms Lars, who has been working for the cult club from Hafenstrasse since 2018: "There's definitely green-white blood in my veins."
Michael Köllner, the 1860 coach who has come under criticism, has often cited Borussia as a praiseworthy example of how great things can be achieved with serious development work.
But: The reality is 3rd division - and not only Köllner, but also the Fleischers are aware of the explosive nature of the game.
Even at the father-and-son meeting at noon before the game, in some Munich tavern, the family duel is likely to be heated up verbally.
Lars says confidently: “We have been unbeaten with RWE for six league games and recently found things a bit easier abroad.
Emotional games against great names suit us.
Being gross for every opponent is getting better and better at it these days.
Especially when the opponent is in the role of making the game, we can work our way into it.
I think,
And how's it going on Monday night?
Papa Fleischer says: "My wish would be a draw.
I think both clubs can live with that, naturally with the hope that 1860 will rise anyway.” Lars sees it the same way: “Like Essen, 1860 is a great traditional club that doesn’t play where it belongs.
It's a club that you wish for further up."
But, he interjects: "We won't be going to Munich with the aim of getting a draw, we're going there with the firm intention of winning the game."
After that there is a two-month break.
Time enough for the Fleischers to analyze the first 17 games of the season.
Or to meet again in Munich - no longer as opponents, but as father and son.