Chemnitz and 1860 Munich look to overcome bad start to the season | OneFootball

Manuel Veth –

Chemnitz vs 1860 Munich – Friday, August 30, 17:00BST/18:00CEST – Stadion – An der Gellertstraße, Chemnitz, Germany

It has been a difficult start to the season for newly promoted Chemnitzer FC. Off the field, Chemnitzer FC have been in the news due to the club’s fans close connection to the local Neo-Nazi scene.

Chemnitz’s Hooligan group Kaotic Chemnitz was a big part of the protests that overshadowed Chemnitz earlier this year. In March CFC fans hung up banners to commemorate the passing of a locally well known right-wing extremist. Then on August 3, hooligans displayed a banner that showed insolvency advisor Klaus Siemon in the crosshairs and the game against Magdeburg slogans were found in the toilets that were open threats against Siemon but also CEO Thomas Sobotzik.

The right-wing fan scene in Chemnitz is not the biggest, but it is the most vocal. “We can’t solve the problems overnight,” Chemnitz’s anti-racism advisor said to N-TV earlier this month. The problem has been a lack of a counter-weight, and the good news is that a group of fans have founded a “CFC fans against racism” fan group in the spring.

Problems off the pitch are a reflection on what is happening in Chemnitz in general. On the pitch, however, the situation has not been much better. Newly promoted this season the club has struggled with injuries all season and, as a result, have collected just three points from the first six games.

“So many injuries early on is incredible,” goalkeeper Jakub Jakubov said earlier this week. “The squad is very thin at the moment,” head coach David Bergner added.

Perhaps it will help Chemnitz that Friday’s opponent 1860 Munich has also struggled. The Lions were hammered 5-1 in Magdeburg last week and with five points from six games have dropped into the relegation zone.

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“We will have to collect ourselves,” head coach Daniel Bierofka said. “Then we will analyze the mistakes and find eleven players that will give everything on the pitch on Friday,” Bierofka added. For 1860 the next two games against Chemnitz and Jena will be key to get out of the basement.

To do just that Bierofka might very well mix the cards and the likes of Markus Ziereis, Dennis Dressel and Leon Klassen could get the start on Friday. For Bierofka getting three points will be key, although the head coach has no real alternative to the aging Sascha Mölders up front the squad should be good enough to collect the much needed six points in the upcoming two games.

Chemnitz vs 1860 Munich  – Players to look out for:

Jakub Jakubov #1 – Chemnitzer FC

Czech keeper Jakub Jakubov was the latest captain for Chemnitz in the club’s 2-2 draw against Bayern II. With the experienced Niklas Hoheneder and Tobias Müller struggling with injuries lately, the keeper has been the most experienced player in the squad. Hoheneder could, however, return on Friday, which might result in yet another captaincy change at the club.

Markus Ziereis #24 – 1860 Munich

Markus Ziereis could be the solution for 1860’s attacking problems. The 27-year-old has been excellent in the Bayerische Toto Pokal and also scored last week against Magdeburg. For Bierofka one option would be to start Ziereis next to Mölders, especially as the club struggled to generate chances in the attacking third. With two players up 1860 will be less predictable but will also lose some speed in the final third.

Chemnitz vs 1860 Munich  – Match Stats

Futbolgrad Network Prediction: Chemnitz vs 1860 Munich  – 1-2

Chemnitz vs 1860 Munich  – Lineups

Chemnitzer FC:

Formation: 5-4-1

Jakubov – Itter, Hoheneder, Sarmov, Reddemann, Milde – Bonga, Langer, D. Bohl, Garcia – Bozić

Head Coach: David Bergner

1860 Munich:

Formation: 4-2-2-2

Bonmann – Paul, Weber, Berzel, Klassen – Wein, Dressel – Kindsvater, Gebhart – Mölders, Ziereis

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 contributes to Forbes.com 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. Manuel has lived in Amsterdam, Kyiv, Moscow, Tbilisi, London, and currently splits his time between Victoria, BC and Munich, Germany.  Follow Manuel on Twitter @ManuelVeth.