Welcome to the S-Bahn Derby! A short history of Unterhaching vs 1860 Munich

Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich haven't played each other since 2008. In the absence of the Münchener Derby, the S-Bahn Derby between 1860 Munich and Haching has become Munich's biggest clash.

“Let them boo and whistle,” 1860 Munich goalkeeper René Vollath said this week ahead of the S-Bahn Derby against SpVgg Unterhaching. “When the entire stadium boos me, I am at my best. I like it.” Vollath will undoubtedly be one of the main protagonists in what will be the biggest game in Munich on Sunday, perhaps even this weekend, despite the Südschlager between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.

“Das kleine Münchener Derby” between 1860 Munich and Unterhaching has increasingly become the only real derby in Bavaria’s capital. To put it into context, the last competitive derby between Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich was played in 2008 when the Reds beat the Blues 1-0 thanks to a Franck Ribery penalty in extra-time.  

It was the 204th and last derby between the two Munich giants—for now, ending the history of the second-most-played derby in Germany. In its absence we have seen fans of both clubs celebrate the occasional Munich derby between 1860 Munich and Bayern’s reserve side Die Amateure.

Let’s be honest, though. Those matches didn’t quite live up to the glory days of the late 1990s and early 2000s when the Reds and Blues competed almost at eye level. The long demise of 1860 Munich after the club’s relegation in 2004 has since robbed the Bundesliga of one of the most colorful derbies in German football.