Leipzig (AP) – A move into the DFB Cup final, in the stadium of the highly unloved rival RB Leipzig – the semifinals are much more for 1. FC Union Berlin than one of the most important games in club history.
Although not as many fans will be there as Eintracht Frankfurt supporters recently celebrated the Europa League coup in Barcelona, the aversion to the opponent is considerably greater. The support is likely to be correspondingly vehement.
Tedesco: “Need every single RB fan”
The Red Bull Arena will be sold out for the first time this Wednesday (8.45 p.m. / Sky and ARD) after the renovation with 47,069 spectators, including more than six and a half thousand Berliner supporters. RB coach Domenico Tedesco appealed to his own supporters to help his team, which has been playing strongly for weeks, from the stands. “It will be a close game, it will be a game of patience. That’s why we need every single RB fan. For that extra push!” Said Tedesco, but also emphasized: “I like the Union fans, they make a good mood .”
But it is also important for the Unionern to openly show their rejection of RB. The people from Köpenick always came up with something for that. Sometimes the Saxons were mocked as “Rat Ball” with a defaced logo in the stadium booklet, sometimes there was a “funeral march” in Leipzig, each time the Union fans were silent for a few minutes. This time red hoodies with the inscription “Full Pulle Union” should symbolize the contrast to the can club.
Union expects strong support in Leipzig
Just like Eintracht at the Hessian night in Barcelona, the Irons in Leipzig expect “significantly more” of their own fans than the official guest contingent, as media chief Christian Arbeit explained. RB does not rule out that further tickets were purchased in open sale. Around 30,000 fans supported Frankfurt at the Camp Nou on Maundy Thursday. In Leipzig, a total of 8,000 to 10,000 Unioners are expected, according to the fans.
They want to protest against RB with a 15-minute mood boycott at the start of the game. The ultras of the Wuhle syndicate also announced this in their information sheet “Die Wald-Seite” for the Bundesliga home game on Saturday. The Leipzig professional Marcel Halstenberg is looking forward to a larger number of guest fans. “I’m really in the mood for it. It will be a great atmosphere when the Union fans come over. The home and away scenery will be outstanding,” said the national player on Sky.
Although RB is in flow with 14 unbeaten competitive games, the two defeats most recently in the An der Alten Försterei stadium should shake all professionals awake, even if Max Kruse, who switched to Wolfsburg, was there at Union at the time. “I think the players still have it in mind, they still have in mind what it’s like to play against Union, it’s not that easy,” said Tedesco, who has to do without Lukas Klostermann, Kevin Kampl and Amadou Haidara.
RB longs for first title
Nevertheless, after the crushing final defeats in Berlin in 2019 against FC Bayern (0: 3) and in 2021 against Borussia Dortmund (1: 4), the people of Leipzig are burning for the final. The first big title after two regional Sachsenpokal victories in 2011 and 2013 could already succeed in Seville. If RB completes the final in the second leg of the semifinals at Glasgow Rangers on May 5th, victory in the Europa League final on May 18th in the Spanish metropolis against Frankfurt or West Ham United would be possible.
But Union, who were in the final in 2001, would like nothing more than to play for the DFB Cup on May 21 after winning three season duels against Hertha BSC – then in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, the home of their unloved city rivals.