For 1. FC Köln, the last matchday against FC Bayern Munich is actually about nothing. Actually. In fact, there are a number of reasons in Cologne to help Borussia Dortmund on their way to the championship title.
“1-0 for Cologne,” shouted BVB stadium announcer Norbert Dickel into his radio microphone in May 2011, causing a roar of cheers in Dortmund. In order to convey the mood in the written word in a reasonably authentic way, the message must be put in capital letters: “1:0 FOR COLOGNE!” On the 32nd match day, BVB was already in the lead against 1. FC Nürnberg. All that was needed to secure the championship title was a blunder from pursuers Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the derby against 1. FC Köln – and that’s exactly how it was to happen.
The Cologne fans in the Müngersdorfer Stadion were delighted to have robbed local rivals Leverkusen of their last chance for the title and provocatively sang: “Only BVB will be German champions!” Which they repeated in a similarly provocative manner in a win against Dortmund’s favorite enemy FC Schalke 04 on the last day of the game. Meanwhile, in the Signal-Iduna-Park, the Dortmunders thanked loudly: “First football club Cologne!”
From this point at the latest, the two fan camps found each other extremely sympathetic, and there are now close ties between the respective ultra groups. Ultras regularly visit the other scene, Cologne scarves are just as present in the Dortmund curve as vice versa.
When they met face-to-face in March of this year, the two fan camps celebrated their friendship with a joint choreography. On a large banner were the names of the clubs and in between: “We are the West”.
BVB legend Kevin Großkreutz makes a promise
Cologne could also support Dortmund’s championship ambitions this season: If BVB doesn’t win against FSV Mainz 05 at home on the last day of the game, Dortmund’s riflemen would need Cologne’s support against pursuers FC Bayern. With two points behind, Munich have the better goal difference.
In 2011, Cologne still needed points in the relegation battle, now it is theoretically about nothing for the team of coach Steffen Baumgart – just like for BVB opponents Mainz. Cologne ranks tenth, the relegation and European Cup zones are out of reach. But not only the fans should be interested in Dortmund winning the title.
“The players can come to Dortmund for a year, they get everything for free. I invite them everywhere,” said Kevin Großkreutz last week in the podcast “Großkreutz & Küpper – Fifteen Minutes of Football”. The BVB legend lives the fan friendship and has often been photographed in Cologne fan clothing.
“I’ll text some Effzeh guys again and call them. Everything! I’ll do everything, I’ll try everything to get the boys hot. I’ll piss them off a bit all week. The team has to burn, the stadium will also burn,” said Grosskreutz. “I know a few. I have to get them hot, they know that too. I’m good with Luca Kilian, he’s also from Dortmund. They all know that there is a fan friendship. I think they’ll knock everything out.”
1. FC Köln: Steffen Baumgart’s wife is a fan of FC Bayern
Just like Grosskreutz, Cologne’s central defender Kilian played for BVB in his youth. Goal scorer Steffen Tigges switched from Dortmund to Cologne before the season. He has scored six goals in 30 Bundesliga games so far, the most recent being the 1-1 win over Werder Bremen last matchday. But he missed the game against FC Bayern injured.
The Dortmund squad meanwhile includes three former Cologne players: Marius Wolf, Salih Özcan and Anthony Modeste. Modeste switched to BVB for five million euros before the season, in the event of a Dortmund championship title, the transfer fee would be loud Express increase by a six-figure sum thanks to a clause.
In summary: if BVB wins, 1. FC Köln will benefit financially, its players will benefit from invitations from Grosskreutz, and its fans will benefit from being with friends. “We want to play a great game and win,” said coach Steffen Baumgart sports picture. “As a coach, I’ve never won against Bayern. That’s what drives us.” That too.
In fact, only one person in the Cologne environment should have something against a Dortmund title win. Baumgart’s wife Katja, known from the film: “‘Get your ass up there!’ Here Steffen Baumgart yells at the TV!” Katja Baumgart once worked in an FC Bayern fan shop in Berlin and is a self-confessed fan of the Munich team. “At least I’m feeling muffled before the game,” she said Picture. “Because I want Bayern to become champions – but I know that Steffen wants to win.”
