The 1997-98 campaign saw 1860 Munich locked in a tense Bundesliga relegation battle, with Die Löwen ultimately securing their top-flight status with a crucial 13th-place finish. Leading the fight was the ever-reliable veteran striker Bernhard Winkler, whose 13 goals proved decisive in a campaign built on sheer grit and a crucial late-season run of three wins in their final four matches. This hard-fought year, overseen by the demanding Werner Lorant and featuring talents like Jens Jeremies and Ned Zelic, marked a memorable escape from the drop and cemented a significant, if stressful, chapter in the club's run in the German elite.