For the 98th time, 1. FC Köln and Borussia Mönchengladbach will face each other in the Bundesliga on Saturday. The “billy goats” hope for a peaceful derby and appeal to their fans.
It is the last remaining major derby in the Bundesliga: 1. FC Köln travels to arch-rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday. Around 60 kilometers separate the stadiums of both clubs, which fought hot duels for the German championship, especially in the 1970s.
However, the signs have been different for many years: 1. FC Köln in particular has developed into a regular candidate for relegation in this millennium. This is also the case this season: the “billy goats” are in the relegation zone and are already eight points behind the saving bank. However, Borussia is also still within reach with a nine-point lead – and could slip deep into the bottom again if Cologne wins.
Because of the table situation: Double explosiveness in the 98th Bundesliga derby
In addition to the emotional explosiveness, the derby on Saturday is also extremely important in the table. “This is a brutally important game for the environment,” said Thomas Kessler at the press conference on Thursday. The goalkeeper was in the squad twelve times for FC against Gladbach and celebrated a 2-1 win at Borussia Park in his only appearance between the posts.
The 38-year-old therefore knows: “The atmosphere will be excellent. We will bring a lot of fans with us and expect an opponent who will do everything to win the game. But that counts for us as well.” For Cologne, it’s ultimately about nothing less than the fight for survival in the Bundesliga.
Schultz knows the Hamburg city derbies
Timo Schultz still knows this special type of game from his time at FC St. Pauli. The coach fought five duels with city rivals HSV, the 46-year-old only lost one of them with three wins and one draw. “These are games where you get excited as soon as you get to the stadium,” said Schultz on Thursday, looking forward to the encounter.
Especially for the coach: For Schultz, Leverkusen and Gladbach are the two most electrifying games you can have as a Cologne coach, right behind each other. In Cologne, however, only the game against Borussia is perceived as a real derby. Schultz already knows that: “There are the neighborhood duels and then there are the derbies that emerged from the special rivalry and tradition.”
After Leverkusen incidents: FC appeals to its own fans
Despite all the anticipation, there are also safety concerns in the run-up to the game. Recently there have been repeated conflicts and riots between the two fan camps. The events against Bayer Leverkusen, when there were violent clashes with injured stewards and police officers on the edge of the visitors’ block and after the game, sharpened the senses once again.
“As a club, we are doing a lot to prevent this. But it cannot always be prevented,” said Kessler, who appealed to the fans: “It is a duel steeped in tradition, it should be celebrated and enjoyed – but please within the framework . What you saw against Leverkusen is not nice and is not part of football. Despite all the rivalry, you should remain fair.”
Timo Schultz also agreed: “I hope that everything stays peaceful and that parents can go to the stadium with their children without having to worry about getting into trouble.” Meanwhile, the coach would like to see competition that is fair and fair, “preferably with an open mind. Everyone should be able to enjoy the game.” 1. FC Köln could probably do even more if the team can repeat their 2-1 win from the first leg.