Bundesliga/2. Bundesliga/3. Liga: "The wind blows from the north" – the 11FREUNDE curve review
Welcome to the Kurvenschau (curve review) and the first-ever edition of this format, which declares: HSV is top-class again! The fans have been top-class again, even over the many years when they had to endure truly traumatic situations. Keyword: "We're still playing in Regensburg." Two years ago, Hamburg fans stormed the pitch as well; back then, too, the Red Shorts seemed to have clinched their long-awaited promotion to the Bundesliga, only to be sent into the valley of tears by two late goals in the parallel match between Regensburg and Heidenheim. But this time, HSV actually did it on their own, which is why the fans were able to pour onto the pitch with complete freedom and without ulterior motives.
Sporting director Stefan Kuntz aptly described the situation: "It seemed to me as if someone had been shaking a large bottle of champagne for seven years, and today someone popped the cork." This outpouring, however, didn't end well for everyone. The result of the evening: A total of 44 people required medical treatment, 19 were seriously injured, one of them life-threatening. We send our best wishes for a speedy recovery! Here, our colleague Tim Jürgens addresses the ambivalence of the pitch invasion phenomenon.
Even as someone not affiliated with HSV, it's hard to escape the emotional impact of this story. For years, they were mocked, for years the face of a ruined, traditional club, for years they failed in spectacular fashion just before reaching their goal. One can only imagine what must have been going through the minds of all the fans that evening, how heavy a weight must have been lifted from their hearts. Yet, everything was actually set up for HSV to shoot itself in the foot again. Huge expectations, a decisive match in front of their home crowd, an impressive choreography before kickoff, HSV as the clear favorite. For some, this may have triggered flashbacks to the relegation second leg against Hertha. And indeed, the Rothosen quickly fell behind, but this time everything went well, and we are happy, choreographies...
... and to be able to marvel at pyrotechnic shows of this kind in the Bundesliga next season.
Wait a minute, that's the wrong sport. Yes, there was a big racing weekend in Hoppegarten in Berlin this weekend, but that doesn't belong here. Excuse me? That's in Mannheim at the match between Waldhof and Dynamo Dresden?
Indeed! And that brings us to the next pitch invasion. Dresden secured promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga in Mannheim – despite a 0-1 defeat. After the final whistle, emotions ran high, but the police intervened much more decisively than in Hamburg.
This resulted in photos like this...
... or this one, which is more reminiscent of the film "Civil War" than a football stadium.
Before the game began, the Saxons showed this choreography, and one thing has to be said for them: They didn't overpromise! From a fan perspective, we're already looking forward to the derby between Dynamo and 1. FC Magdeburg next season.
Besides promotions and relegations, championship celebrations and the joy of reaching Europe, one topic in particular plays a major role at the end of a season: the farewell of deserving players. And hardly any player in the history of the Bundesliga has made such contributions to his club as Thomas Müller. After 750 games for the first team, in which he scored 248 goals and provided a further 274, the 35-year-old's career will be over at the end of the season. Whether he will end his career or actually play in a different jersey again is not yet clear. But one thing is more certain than Müller in front of the goal: that he will forever have a place in the hearts of Bayern. This is also demonstrated by the choreography that the FCB fans dedicated to him on Saturday.
After the game, Müller was celebrated by his own fans and, quite honestly, given his loyalty to the club, we wouldn't be surprised if we saw him more often in the future – like here – in the south stand.
In addition to all the celebrations surrounding the championship title and Thomas Müller, the Munich team also addressed another topic: collective punishments by the Bavarian Football Association. The association punished the Würzburger Kickers with ghost games and a point deduction as punishment for the riots at the match between the Kickers and 1. FC Schweinfurt on May 2nd.
Bayern fans denounce the fact that collective punishments are prohibited in a constitutional state and demand the dissolution of the BFV.
Let's get back to the topic of farewells: Raimund Bertels is leaving SC Verl after eleven years as sporting director and well over two decades with the club. He cited the business as having become more brutal and not enjoying it as much as he did. He also wants to spend more time with his family. The Verl team dedicated this choreography to him as a farewell.
Nuremberg also expressed their gratitude to their longtime captain Enrico Valentini. The right-back will retire this summer at the age of 36. He made 183 appearances for the Franconian club, whose youth system he graduated to professional football. Now, his career has come full circle, as Valentini returns to Nuremberg's youth academy and takes over the U14 team.
Longtime captain? He's also leaving VfL Bochum. After 363 appearances for the Ruhrpott club, Anthony Losilla will end his career this summer. He, too, will remain with the club, which will surely please the fans who gave him this farewell choreography.
Miloš Veljković's farewell was also tearful. The central defender was visibly upset by the separation after nine years. "I thought this day would never come – but now it's here. Thank you for everything," he sobbed into the Bremen stadium microphone. He will return to his hometown of Red Star Belgrade.
Beforehand, however, he was able to watch this performance by the Bremen fans again. "Forever Werder" certainly holds a place in Veljković's heart.
Not a farewell, but an anniversary: The Unioner Waldseite paid homage to goalkeeping coach Michael Gspurning, also known as Gspurti, who has been looking after the Köpenick goalkeepers for 300 competitive matches.
The Unioners also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the fan club “Bürgerbräu Haie”.
Another topic of recent days: May 8th marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of Germany by the Allies. The people of Augsburg took the opportunity to make a statement.
The people of Leipzig also made a statement under the motto “Never again is now”.
Leverkusen fans also made a statement, with their appeal against police violence in German stadiums apparently referring to the events surrounding the derby between Karlsruher SC and 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
The Hertha players, who are close friends with the Karlsruhers, struck the same note in a somewhat more robust tone.
Freiburg also had a concern: They wanted a unified 33rd matchday, as was customary until 2020, and accused the DFL of distorting competition. They wanted all matches to take place on Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. However, the DFL's decision to forego the additional television funding and return to a less fragmented schedule would likely be a sensation.
SV Elversberg's promotion would also be nothing short of a sensation. Before the season, many expected the classic "dreaded second year" of a newly promoted team; Elversberg entered the season as a relegation candidate. Now the Saarland team is in third place and still has a chance of direct promotion. Elversberg took this as an opportunity to hold a fan march to the last home game of the season.
When we arrived at the stadium there was a banner...
... and pyrotechnics as well as masses of cash register rolls.
Fortuna Düsseldorf fans also provided a visual highlight. Their two-part choreography read, "Even as a child...
...you cast a spell over me." And if you look into the whirlpool long enough, you can see Fortuna cheating their way into the relegation zone on the last matchday. Crazy!
Mannheim probably wouldn't mind a relegation spot. It's just a shame that there isn't one in the 3. Liga relegation battle. Teams placed 17th-20th have to go straight to the Regionalliga. Waldhof is currently holding on valiantly in 16th place, but is only one point ahead of Borussia Dortmund II, who could still overtake them on the final matchday. With second teams, there's always the worry that they'll call in reinforcements from above in crucial games. Mannheim also faces league leaders Arminia Bielefeld. These are difficult days for the Baden-Württemberg team, whose fans are demanding an appraisal of the season.
We'll stay with Baden and look at KSC. Visiting Regensburg, the Karlsruhe team presented a choreography that could just as easily be seen in Barcelona. Just quickly replace "Freies Baden" with "Catalunya Independiente," the colors stay the same, and voila, we're in northeastern Spain. Visca Karlsruhe! Visca Baden! Or something like that...
Ulm also put on a fierce choreography in Hamburg. Despite the support of their fans, it ultimately proved insufficient for the Sparrows. The 6-1 defeat at HSV and the simultaneous victory for Münster against Hertha sealed their relegation.
Speaking of Münster: They can now at least celebrate that they can no longer be relegated directly. However, relegation is still a possibility.
Looking at this choreography, you'd assume Union is still fighting for survival. Yet, the Irons secured their place in the league several weeks ago. Was the choreography in the planning stages for a while and couldn't be changed? Or is Union not giving up in the fight for 12th place? Questions, questions, questions...
SV Darmstadt is also in 12th place, just one league below Union Berlin. The fans provided further reference to the number with their choreography at the Betzenberg, symbolizing that they, as the 12th man/woman, always stand behind the team.
Across the street, Lautern and their West Stand celebrated. Quite rightly so, considering the choreographies the Red Devils have put together this season.
The same applies to the Cannstatter Kurve at VfB Stuttgart. They reflected on their city's beginnings over the weekend. Bad Cannstatt, the part of Stuttgart where the MHPArena is located, was an important city in the Roman Empire, presumably even the capital of a "civitas," a semi-autonomous administrative unit.
True to the motto of the song "Now it's summer, whether you're sweating or freezing. Summer is what's happening in your head" by the Wise Guys, the fans of 1860 Munich approached their away trip and quickly turned Verl into Hawaii.
While some Munich fans confused Verl with Hawaii, the mistake of some Energie Cottbus fans had more serious consequences. After the Lusatian team managed to steal a crucial away win from the Ostseestadion, delivering an impressive pyrotechnic display, unpleasant scenes occurred on the way back. A group of around 100 intoxicated Energie supporters allegedly attacked 23 completely unsuspecting and innocent rugby fans at the Prignitz/West rest area. The problem: The victims were apparently wearing blue jerseys. In their intoxication, the Cottbus fans apparently mistook them for Hansa Rostock fans. After injuring ten rugby fans, the Lusatian team continued their journey, but were stopped and detained by the police. The investigation is ongoing.
To conclude this section, we'll show you a few more beautiful pyrotechnic shows: We'll start with the Bielefelders...
... and conclude this edition of Kurvenschau with the Freiburgers. We wish you a nice rest of the week and see you again on Tuesday for the last Kurvenschau of the season.
11freunde
