1. FC Magdeburg is playing its first home game since the attack on the Christmas market in December. The game against Eintracht Braunschweig has a special atmosphere.
In terms of sport, however, there is a big gap between the two clubs. With an exhilarating 5-2 win against Fortuna Düsseldorf at the start of the year, the FCM has landed at the top and is in the promotion race as second in the 2nd Bundesliga. As the penultimate at the other end of the table, Eintracht is once again fighting against relegation.
The outcome of this second game in 2025 is quite significant for both of them. But there are things that are bigger than sport. The attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market in December illustrated this in all its ugliness. The act, in which a total of six people lost their lives, shocked the city.
The close ties between the cities had already become clear around the shocking events. Units from the Braunschweig fire department drove to Magdeburg that night to support the emergency services there. At the Braunschweig Christmas market, donations of more than 17,000 euros were raised for the victims of the attack.
Eintracht expressed their solidarity, for example in the last away game of 2024 against 1. FC Nürnberg. The team wore mourning ribbons and the fans unfurled a banner that read: “Fortress city unshakable. You are never alone!”.
For the first time since the attack, the FCM is playing in a competitive game in front of its own audience – still under the impression of the events at the Christmas market. The FCM provided 250 free tickets for those affected by the attack and emergency services.
And special activities are also planned on match day. There should be a minute’s silence before the game begins. The team also wears a special jersey with the words “Magdeburg stands together” emblazoned on the chest. “This jersey should not only provide confidence and comfort, but also serve as a symbol of our support and sympathy,” says the club.
The BTSV will also be involved in another campaign. Both teams present a common banner before kick-off “to send a clear signal for solidarity, cohesion and against violence and hatred,” writes the FCM on its website. And further: “Community and solidarity are the values that sustain us – for Magdeburg, for our city.”
There is obviously unity behind this message. In any case, it’s good that Braunschweig, of all people, are guests in a game that is so important for the city of Magdeburg. A fan says to t-online: “It’s a good feeling that there are many familiar faces and friends in the guest block with BTSV and its fans.” He “couldn’t imagine better opponents and fans” for the first home game after the attack.
And in the Braunschweig camp, too, the tragic incident was “of course in the back of our minds,” said a BTSV supporter to t-online. But we are looking forward to standing up for a good cause together on Friday. The atmosphere in Magdeburg is “always good anyway”, and under the special circumstances he now expects one or two more “goosebumps moments”.
At the press conference on Thursday, Eintracht’s press spokesman Luca Podlech also pointed out the special circumstances and actions with regard to the “devastating” attack in Magdeburg before Christmas. The BTSV then focused on sport. On Friday, however, this will take a back seat for at least a few moments in memory of the attack victims. Because some things are bigger than sport.