MSV Duisburg is in the thick of the promotion race in the 3. Liga. More and more fans want to watch the action live at the stadium.

Even though MSV Duisburg has lost the strong position it held in the first few weeks: Coach Dietmar Hirsch’s team is still performing well above expectations and, sitting third in the 3. Liga standings, is right in the thick of the promotion race.

SC Verl and Energie Cottbus are just ahead, while Rot-Weiss Essen, Hansa Rostock, and VfL Osnabrück are just behind MSV Duisburg. Following the away game against VfB Stuttgart II on Sunday, January 18, at 1:30 p.m., the first home game against SSV Jahn Regensburg is scheduled for Saturday, January 24, at 4:30 p.m.

And it seems many fans want to be there for the rest of the Zebras’ home games. That’s because MSV has already sold over 1,000 season tickets for the second half of the season. To be precise, as of Wednesday, January 14, the total was already 1,004. This brings the Zebras’ total number of season tickets sold to 8,819.

Excluding the 1,004 late winter buyers, 7,815 season tickets were sold in the first half of the season. This means that more than one-seventh of the new season ticket holders joined during the winter. A strong signal.

The Zebras still have ten home games left to play. Season tickets are still available in all sections of the stadium, including the fan section.

Just like the fans, the MSV Duisburg players are eager for the rest of the season. “The atmosphere is really good. We often go out to eat together at home, and we’re a tight-knit group—that’s what sets us apart. Two new players have joined us, and Moritz Montag has left—that’s just part of soccer. I was happy for him and even advised him to leave the club because now he can play more, be happy again, and rediscover the joy of soccer,” said captain Ali Hahn in a recent Forecasting interview.

“Who wouldn’t want that when you’re up there? You can’t plan for something like that. With Münster, our goal was to stay in the league. The best cautionary example is Sandhausen from last winter. They bought everyone, paid second-division-level salaries, and still got relegated. The most important thing is that the team stays intact and everyone would walk through fire for each other. No matter how fast or good someone is—the human connection has to be right. You know me. I’m not someone who talks a big game first; I’m someone who hits the ground running.”