The 1. FC Magdeburg plays its first home game since the attack at the Christmas market in December. There is a special atmosphere around the game against Eintracht Braunschweig.
In terms of sport, on the other hand, there is a large gap between the two clubs. The FCM fully docked up at the start of SV Elversberg with an exhilarating 5: 2 against SV Elversberg and mixes up as second in the second Bundesliga in the promotion race. As the penultimate at the other end of the tableau, Eintracht is once again fighting against relegation.
For both of them, the outcome of this second game in 2025 is quite significant. 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 city shook the crime through which a total of six people lost their lives.
The tight band between the cities had already become clear about the shocking events. Units of the Braunschweig fire brigade had driven to Magdeburg that night to support the emergency services there. At the Braunschweig Christmas market, donations of more than 17,000 euros came together for the victims of the attack.
Eintracht expressed its solidarity, for example at the last away game of 2024 against 1. FC Nürnberg. The team ran up with a mourning flor, the fans unrolled a banner with the inscription “Fortress city unshakable. You are never alone!”.
For the first time since the attack, the FCM is again 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.
Special campaigns are also planned on the match day. There should be a minute’s silence before the start of the game. The team also runs with a special jersey, on the chest of which the words “Magdeburg stand together” emerge. “This jersey should not only donate confidence and comfort, but also serve as a symbol of our support and sympathy,” says the association.
The BTSV is also involved in another campaign. Both teams present a common banner before kick -off, “to set a clear sign of solidarity, cohesion and against violence and hatred,” writes the FCM on its website. And further: “Community and solidarity are the values that wear us – for Magdeburg, for our city.”
The Eintracht is obviously also behind this message. In any case, it is well received that the Braunschweigers of all people are guests in a game that is so important for the city of Magdeburg. A fan says to T-Online: “With the BTSV and its fans there are many familiar faces and friends in the guest block is a good feeling.” For the first home game after the attack, he could “not imagine better opponents and fans”.
And also in the Braunschweig camp, the tragic incident was “in the back of the head”, according to a BTSV supporter to T-Online. However, one looks forward to standing together for the good cause on Friday. The atmosphere in Magdeburg is “always good” anyway, under the special circumstances he now expects one or the other “goosebumps torque” more.
Eintracht press spokesman Luca Podlech also referred to the special circumstances and promotions at the press conference on Thursday with a view to the “devastating” attack in Magdeburg before Christmas. The BTSV subsequently focused on sporty. On Friday, however, this will be back in the background for a few moments in memory of the victims. Because some things are bigger than sport.