Timo Baumgartl last played in April. Then he was diagnosed with testicular cancer Photo: picture alliance / Dennis Ewert/RHR-FOTO
By Matthew Koch
The 1-0 loss to Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League hurt. But on Sunday (3.30 p.m.) Union can make things right again in Cologne.
Three players who weren’t in the squad against the Belgians should also be highly motivated.
Above all: Timo Baumgartl (26)! The defender is back in Cologne for the first time 145 days after his last game!
Baumgartl last wore the Union jersey on April 20 in the DFB Cup semifinals at RB Leipzig (1:2).
A few days later, during a check-up, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Hard months of chemotherapy followed. Baumgartl fought back and is now making it back into the match day squad for the first time.
In the best case, Baumgartl can now play against the Cologne team of coach and ex-Unioner Steffen Baumgart (50) – who had to witness serious fan riots on Thursday in the 1-1 draw in Nice in the Conference League.
Kevin Behrens and Tino Baumgartl during training Photo: City Press
However, his perspective on life has changed. Baumgartl said recently. “When you’re diagnosed with cancer, you inevitably have to deal with what happens when you’re gone. You just learn to appreciate things more. You don’t get so upset about smaller things anymore, you set your priorities differently.” He will still want to win in Cologne.
Scorer Jordan Siebatcheu (26) and defender Diogo Leite (23) can help here. The duo are fit again. Defense colleague Danilho Doekhi (24), on the other hand, is injured.