The atmosphere and audience response at the season-opening game of the women’s Bundesliga between SC Freiburg and FC Bayern created enthusiasm among everyone involved.
“That was the perfect backdrop for such an opening game. It was very, very loud the whole game,” said Munich international Giulia Gwinn after the turbulent 2-2 draw between the defending champions and the DFB Cup finalists on Friday evening in front of 13,234 spectators Dreisam Stadium.
After the late equalizer for the SC by joker Svenja Fölmli (90th + 7 minutes), the loudness of the fans screaming for goal was reminiscent of the Freiburg men’s previous games in their former arena. “We are extremely happy about the game and the atmosphere. I’m really speechless right now,” said Freiburg national player and opening goal scorer Janina Minge at MagentaSport. The sports club’s supporters celebrated their players with chants long after the final whistle.
Freiburg’s coach Merk: “A cool backdrop”
Hundreds of spectators stood in front of the Bayern players’ team bus afterwards, waiting for Gwinn and her teammates. Bayern coach Alexander Straus also raved about the “fantastic atmosphere” and, despite the disappointing result, said: “I hope we have more games like this.”
After the German national team’s World Cup debacle in Australia, there was much discussion as to whether the boom of the previous season had now stopped. “I think things will continue to improve,” said Freiburg coach Theresa Merk. “It was pure emotion from the first to the last minute. A cool backdrop.”
For the SC, the number of spectators was a club record for the women, who once played with the ex-Freiburg player Gwinn in front of around 1,000 visitors in the Möslestadion. “It was a completely different setting today,” said the defender.