VfR Aalen - 1860 München

After four points from their last two tough games against 1 FC Kaiserslautern (4-0) and in Karlsruhe (1:1) VfR Aalen once again standing for a difficult task with TSV 1860 Munich at their own Arena this Friday evening. The Lions comes here for the first time with their new coach Friedhelm Funkel after knocked out Schmidt after less success. For Funkel this is the first match after his arrangement with Alemannia Aachen where he was fired on 1 April 2012 and he returns after one and a half year in second Bundesliga again. Nevertheless a hard task for him as 1860’s goal is to get promoted and he got only a contract till the end of the season. If he has less success in this season, his time is gone immediately.

Even no one makes no secret in Aalen from the fact that the change of 1860’s Coach has come at a bad time at today's opponents. Despite this, they want to continue their small series and establish themselves away from the relegation zone. Coach Ruthenbeck wants to count on the same eleven as he did in the past matches and it was with success anyway. Alternatives are less, because their new on loan signed finish striker Pohjanpalo comes injured to them and needs some time to recover. He is only ready in October to help his new team. Therefore Robert Lechleitner is the only one striker again, but he said that he feel much more comfortable in this position as on the wing. He showed this already as he scored his first goal this season against KSC where he plays up front and not on the wing. He will be flanked by Valentini and Klauß who should be the guys who assist him. Aalen’s play is more from a good defense over fast counter and they allow not much space as they stand compact. This is their style and they continue this because only with this they can exist in this league as small club.

After 1860’s big disaster against relegation candidate Sandhausen (0-2) who was the fact for sucking Coach Schmidt. Compared to this match new Coach Funkel plans a few changes in his starting lineup now. First one can be on the back wing where Moritz Volz disappointed in the past and Wojtkowiak gets a new chance here. Also on the other side Schindler was not on his best shape against Sandhausen but he stays in team maybe. In central midfield Daniel Adlung meanwhile has not performed well in his six starts and will probably be replaced by Daniel Bierofka who is back after his injury and could play beside Yannick Stark which would significant help the team just in terms of experience safely. After the offensive line including the substitute player failed completely against Sandhausen, there may be changes too. More likely, however, and lack of alternatives Funkel counts on the same offensive quartet with Stoppelkamp, Tomasov, Lauth and Hain. But of course some other options are maybe there if Adlung lose his place in central midfield he can play on the wing as well. Also up front some other players are ready for playing. Overall Funkel can give 1860 a batch and lead them to better times.