The Lions host Alemannia at the Arena, kickoff 13:30

Munich, November 7 - It's ok to look at what your neighbors have, and try to emulate.  Maybe buy the same car, or patio furniture.  But when your neighbor is Bill Gates, how do you keep up?  That's the current state for TSV 1860 München.  They would love to keep up with the neighbors two streets over, but FC Bayern are one of the giants of European football and over the past years 1860 are just trying to survive life in the 2nd Bundesliga.

Despite the normal off-the-pitch troubles that the club seems to go through each year, this time the play on the pitch is slowly improving.  And today, they look to extend an 8-match unbeaten streak against Alemannia Aachen at Allianz Arena.  Kickoff is at 13:30.  Munich is also unbeaten at home this season.

The current overall streak includes 4 wins and 3 draws, outscoring their opponents 11 goals to 5, and keeping 4 clean sheets.  All this leads to the 8th spot on the table and a chance to get up to 5th with a victory today.  "Everything flows great with wins," claims head coach Reiner Maurer.  "The players are working hard and with that comes the self-confidence."

Helping 1860 turn the tide has been the emergence of Benjamin Lauth.  The one-time prolific striker for the German national team and in the top league, Lauth has disappeared over the past seasons.  But coming into this weekend, he is one of the top scorers in the 2nd Bundesliga with 5 goals.  Lauth scored twice in their last victory, a 4-2 win in Karlsruher.  The goalkeeping has also been solid, with Gabor Kiraly leading the league with 44 saves.

 Today's match presents a tough challenge for 1860 to continue their streaks.  Aachen sit right behind TSV in the table, also with 16 points but behind on goal difference.  Benjamin Auer has scored 4 goals and goalkeeper David Hohs is the third best in the league.  Alemannia is also on a 7-match win streak, so today should be a major indicator for both clubs if they can work their way to the top of the table.  As Maurer looks across the pitch today, it will be like looking in the mirror.  "Aachen developed similar to us, they are the youngest team in the league, we are the second youngest.  We will have to concentrate on Sunday and take the three points."

For 1860, they would like to stop measuring themselves with the teams in the second league and hope to once again be mentioned in the same breath as FCB.  But they have to get through this season before they can.  For Maurer, there is a clear goal:  "We want to win every game.  But Aachen is a tough match, and it doesn't get easier with Cottbus, FSV Frankfurt, and Fürth in the next matches.  By the end of the first half of the season, I would like to be in the top six."