Will Lok Leipzig make it into the 3rd league at the third attempt? Lok coach Seitz’s team continues to be plagued by injury concerns against Würzburg. Würzburg, on the other hand, is riding a wave of success. But people in Probstheida are confident. “We can hurt Würzburg.”
That was important to Lok Leipzig coach Jochen Seitz. At the end of Lok Leipzig’s press conference before the third division promotion first leg, the FCL coach made it clear: “We don’t want to put the Würzburger Kickers on a pedestal so that they play in the Champions League.”
Seitz: “They have enormous power”
As champions of the Regionalliga Nordost, Lok has to play against the champions of the Regionalliga Bayern on Thursday (May 28, 2026, 7 p.m. in the audio stream & live ticker) in Leipzig and on Monday (June 1, 2026, 6:30 p.m. in the audio stream & live ticker) in Würzburg. The winner of both games will be promoted to the 3rd league. And Seitz has observed a few things about the Lower Franconians that make him speak of the upcoming opponents with respect: “They have enormous power. I know that Würzburg has an extremely strong offensive, many players with second or third division experience. I don’t even know how long they have been unbeaten for now, ten or twelve games.”
Würzburg: Cup win against third division team 1860
Exactly there are 16 games, and the victorious games also include the state cup final against third division eighth team 1860 Munich. With 72 goals, the Kickers had the best offense in the Bavarian Regional League and with 25 goals conceded the best defense. The squad can look back on experience of 597 third division and 269 second division games. “With the exception of Filip Kusic, we hardly have any players who have played in the third division for more than one season.”
“Hope for the second leg” by von Piechowski
Stefan Maderer would still be there, and Laurin von Piechowski. But both are injured, goalkeeper Maderer is definitely out, and, according to Seitz, there is “hope for the second leg” for Piechowski’s defender. With Jonas Arcalean, Leipzig’s top assist provider is also missing.
Ziane: “We are still Lok Leipzig”
But captain Djamal Ziane is there, fighting for promotion to the 3rd league for the third time after 2021 (against Verl) and 2025 (against Havelse). And who appeared combative before the duel with Würzburg: “The fact is that we have become champions. We are still Lok Leipzig and are playing in front of a sold-out crowd. We will need the spectators.”
Scene from the game against Havelse a year ago: Ziane (center) is playing for promotion for the third time
Seitz also emphasizes: “We didn’t get the championship title for free. We have enough quality to hurt Würzburg,” says the 49-year-old, who is well versed in the Bavarian Regional League thanks to his previous work in Aschaffenburg. Seitz also appealed to the 10,000 fans in the sold-out Bruno Plache Stadium: “The hut must burn on Thursday.”
Würzburg won the state cup against Würzburg.
Würzburg: Top trio scored more than half of the goals
Looking at the Würzburg attackers Tarsis Bonga (15 goals), Jermain Nischalke (15 goals) and Dion Berisha (7 goals) – the trio scored more than half of the Kickers’ goals – Seitz points to their own defense: “We have had the best defense in the league for two years. I’m not afraid or worried.” Lok’s back line will be challenged twice. Even if it’s not against an opponent from the Champions League.
Dirk Hofmeister
