Lions ready for Cup challenge in Osnabrück

Grünwalder Strasse, Giesing - After two league matches, TSV 1860 Munich will play in their first German Cup match Friday night against VfL Osnabrück.

Lions head coach Reiner Maurer pointed out that VfL are in the third league, but he is completely aware of the dangers the opponent represents.

"The team is completely rebuilt, but they have a good mix of talent and seasoned players. They play forward and look to score quickly," analyzed Maurer.

Maurer believes that the two matches they played already will have a benefit, even though they lost their only road match so far.  "Last year, the cup match was our first match,as the season started later and we fought hard to come back," recalled Maurer their 2-1 victory over SC Verl, in which they trailed 1-0 at the half.  Two late second-half goals by Stefan Aigner saved the Lions.

Despite losing 3-1 at Eintracht Braunschweig, Maurer feels they will come out with the same intensity in this match but with a different result.  "This is our third match, and we want to be competitive and continue to improve as we've established a good weekly rhythm, playing every 6 days.  It will be an open match, I am counting on a battle."

Maurer will have to keep Stefan Buck in Munich.  Buck has served his suspension for earning a second yellow in the season's opening match but will not make the trip due to injury.  Instead the Lions will bring US player Bobby Wood to onsnatel Arena, hoping to play him for the first time.

VfL won their first league match on the road, a 1-0 win at SV Darmstadt 98 and this cup match will be their first home game of the season.  The club has sold 7,500 tickets and expect 12,000 home fans.  Kickoff is at 20:30 CET.