Haching to host 1860 Munich in the S-Bahn Derby

Unterhaching vs 1860 Munich – Wednesday, September 26, 19:00 BST/20:00 CEST  – Alpenbauer Sportpark, Unterhaching, Germany

Unterhaching vs 1860 Munich will take place at the Alpenbauer Sportpark in Unterhaching (Photo by Thomas Starke/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Unterhaching vs 1860 Munich also known as the little Munich derby or the S-Bahn derby (the suburban train derby). Technically, speaking Unterhaching is not a part of Munich but instead a municipality located in the wider Munich district.

At the same time, the Grünwalder Stadion and the Alpenbauer Sportpark are separated by just a short 7.5km drive on the Autobahn or one stop on the S-Bahn. That alone would be a reason enough for a healthy rivalry.

There is also a significant history between the two sides. In the 1999/00 and 2000/01 Bundesliga seasons the two clubs faced each other on four occasions and in 2000/01 Unterhaching won both their matches against 1860. Die Löwen, however, had the last laugh as they faced Unterhaching’s relegation competitor Energie Cottbus on matchday 34 and then lost the match 1-0.

For years there were rumours that legendary 1860 München head coach Werner Lorant had lost that match on purpose to revenge the two 1860 derby defeats that season. We will never find out the truth, furthermore, it did not stop Lorant to coach Unterhaching in 2007.

Signed to safe Unterhaching from Bundesliga 2 relegation Lorant, however, could not give the decisive impulse to keep Haching in the second division. On matchday 32 Unterhaching lost 1-0 to 1860 München once again it was a result that would cement Haching’s relegation but this time to the third division.

Coincidentally, it was also the last time the two sides faced each other in a competitive match. Unterhaching were relegated to Liga 3 and in 2015 Haching were relegated to the Regionalliga Bayern after years of trying to force their way back into Bundesliga 2.

Financially, die Spielvereinigung was at the end. It was only thanks to former 1860 München captain Manfred Schwabl that Unterhaching were able to consolidate in the fourth division. New sponsors and a concept of turning the club into an academy club brought success and promotion to Liga 3 in 2017.

Just in time for 1860 München to be relegated to the third division. But an S-Bahn derby in 2017/18 was not meant to be as 1860 München’s relegation to the third division was followed by financial problems after investor Hasan Ismaik refused to pay the licence fee for the third division.

Like Unterhaching a season of consolidation under new head coach Daniel Bierofka followed. Bierofka built a new team mostly consisting of local talent and surprised many by not only dominating the Regionalliga Bayern but also navigating his club through the bottleneck of Regionalliga promotion by beating Saarbrücken in the playoffs.

Now with one year delay, the S-Bahn derby is back on the league calendar. Going into the match 1860 München had two disappointing results against Hansa Rostock and Wehen Wiesbaden. Both times die Löwen were up by a goal and both times 1860 dropped points drawing Rostock 2-2 and losing the Wiesn Auftakt to Wehen Wiesbaden 1-2.

Both those games can be noted down as classic growing pain by a team that is still getting used to a new division. Unterhaching, in the meantime, have been excellent this season. Collecting 15 points from the first eight games Unterhaching are second in the division four points ahead eighth-placed 1860 München.

With this in mind, Unterhaching will be the favourites in the derby. But 1860 fans will turn the Sportpark in Unterhaching into a home fixture for their club Haching is by far the smallest club among the three Munich clubs in terms of fan support. Hence, with die Löwen fans out in full support – 5,000 tickets were allocated to 1860 and many more bought tickets through Haching’s allocation – the game will be a home game for the blues.

Unterhaching vs 1860 Munich – Players to look out for:

Stephan Hain #9 – SpVgg Unterhaching

Stephan Hain is not only Unterhaching’s dangerman but also a striker with a past at 1860 München. The 29-year-old played for die Löwen from 2013 to 2016 but struggled at the Giesing based club. In the 2016/17 season Hain scored 32 goals in 28 games and then added another 18 goals last season in Liga 3. This year he is once again Unterhaching’s top scorer with four goals and two assists after eight games.

Julian von Haacke and Marco Komenda of Meppen challenges Stephan Hain of Unterhaching during the 3. Liga match between SV Meppen and SpVgg Unterhaching at Haensch-Arena on September 22, 2018 in Meppen, Germany. (Photo by Joachim Sielski/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Nico Karger #18 – TSV 1860 München

Everything at 1860 is focused on the forward tanks Sascha Mölders and Adriano Grimaldi. The two, however, have struggled with fitness and die Löwen are somewhat toothless when the two do not score. But 1860 München have strength in depth and the likes of Nico Karger need to get their scoring touch going. The 25-year-old scored 14 goals in 32 Regionalliga Bayern games last season but has only scored twice in eight games thus far this season.

Ulrich Taffertshofer (L) of Osnabrueck and Nico Karger of Munich fight for the ball during the 3. Liga match between VfL Osnabrueck and TSV 1860 Muenchen at Stadion an der Bremer Bruecke on August 8, 2018 in Osnabrueck, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Starke/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Unterhaching vs 1860 Munich – Match Stats

• Unterhaching have a positive record against 1860 München, die Spielvereinigung W5 D3 L3.
• Daniel Bierofka, during his time as 1860 München’s reserve coach, never managed to beat Unterhaching. His record is D2 L1.
• Unterhaching head coach Claus Schromm remains undefeated against 1860. His record is W1 D2.

Futbolgrad Network Prediction: Unterhaching vs 1860 Munich – 1-1

Unterhaching vs 1860 Munich – Lineups

SpVgg Unterhaching:

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Königshofer – J. Welzmüller, M. Endres, Greger, Dombrowka – Stahl, Bigalke – L. Marseiler, Porath – Hufnagel, Hain

Head Coach: Claus Schromm

TSV 1860 München:

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Hiller – H. Paul, F. Weber, Si. Lorenz, Steinhart – Moll, Wein – Lex, Karger – Grimaldi, Mölders

Head Coach: Daniel Bierofka

Manuel Veth is the owner and Editor in Chief of the Futbolgrad Network. He also works as a freelance journalist and among others works for the Bundesliga and Pro Soccer USA. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in History from King’s College London, and his thesis is titled: “Selling the People’s Game: Football’s transition from Communism to Capitalism in the Soviet Union and its Successor States,” which is available HERE. Originally from Munich, Manuel has lived in Amsterdam, Kyiv, Moscow, Tbilisi, London, and currently is located in Victoria BC, Canada.  Follow Manuel on Twitter @ManuelVeth.