Bundesliga Fan Scene: Three of nine fixtures sell out in week 30
Our "Weekend Attendance Figures" feature returns to report on the happenings inside Bundesliga stadiums during Easter Weekend in the Bundesrepublik.
While there was certainly competition from the traditional houses-of-worship this round, there was also plenty going on amidst the devotees of the footballing shrines.
Three Bundesliga stadiums filled to capacity on what was a warm and sunny Easter Weekend in the Bundesrepublik. The first major family holiday in Germany not to feature nationwide rules on mass gatherings almost certainly played a role in none of the six fixtures with seats still available on Friday filling to capacity.
While there was certainly competition from the traditional houses-of-worship this round, there was also plenty going on amidst the devotees of the footballing shrines.
Dortmund, Freiburg, and Augsburg still registered well over 90 percent attendance.
Atmospheres within virtually all German top flight footballing venues remained lively everywhere except Sinsheim. Bundesliga supporters brought with them all the spirit so sorely missed over the past two years of the global pandemic. All the vibrant energy returns to the hallowed German footballing cathedrals.
VfL Wolfsburg (at) Borussia Dortmund
Attendance = 79,200 (97.3%)
The audience for the "great Wolfsburg drubbing" came in just short of a sell-out. This obviously didn't matter at all to debutant sensation Tom Rothe; very much a hot topic in German footballing circles after he brought the near-capacity crowd to its feet with a surprise opening goal.
Needless to say, the atmosphere at Signal Iduna was electrifying as always.
Immer wieder schön. 🤩💛 pic.twitter.com/onu4EYigBm
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) April 17, 2022
VfL Bochum (at) SC Freiburg
Attendance = 34,000 (97.9%)
Not quite a full capacity crowd at the Europa Park Stadion watching the weekend's other big blowout. It obviously mattered not as the home of the Breisgauer rocked at full-tilt.
The pre-match festivities included balloons, streamers, and confetti as part of the club's Easter celebrations. After the team took a bow, the local kids got a chance to visit the pitch again for the first time since the onset of the pandemic.
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/rO7hpSH0ZQ
— SC Freiburg (@scfreiburg) April 16, 2022
VfB Stuttgart (at) FSV Mainz 05
Attendance = 30,128 (88.5%)
As one could tell from head-coach Bo Svensson's pre-match presser, interest among the fan base in the Pfälzer capital declines somewhat as this "stable in mid-table" campaign draws to a close.
This fixture thus came in well short of a sell out. Official confirmation of at least the relegation playoff place came Sunday following the Bielefeld loss. The club felt ready to go ahead and confirm another season anyway.
Seit heute steht fest: Wir gehen gemeinsam mit euch in unsere 17. Bundesliga-Saison! 😍 #Mainz05 #Bundesliga pic.twitter.com/o7qVrjYjIJ
— 1. FSV Mainz 05 (@1FSVMainz05) April 17, 2022
Hertha BSC (at) FC Augsburg
Attendance = 30,128 (93.0%)
Not quite the support the Fuggerstädter might have been hoping for in a match they'll still be kicking themselves for dropping. Candidly, the atmosphere felt rather subdued at times, particularly towards the end of the contest.
A cutesy, yet still enjoyable, display took place before kickoff as the FCA commemorated the milestone of 20,000 official members.
Louis (6) aus Augsburg ist unser 2️⃣0️⃣.0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣. Mitglied! 🤩🙌 Er ist natürlich am Start für #FCABSC!
— FC Augsburg (@FCAugsburg) April 16, 2022
👉 Ab 15.30 Uhr live bei @SkySportDE: https://t.co/gxLxWJVF5d pic.twitter.com/uEK1KamFds
FC Köln (at) Borussia Mönchengladbach
Attendance = 54,041 (sold out)
In lieu of a (fully deserved) refund, BMG enthusiasts who packed Borussia Park were issued an apology by trainer Adi Hütter after a rather embarrassing display in the derby. Genuinely a bitter waste of a great crowd.
The Kurve were silenced early. Understandable whistles, jeers, and boos from the disappointed Fohlen faithful.
FC Bayern München (at) Arminia Bielefeld
Attendance = 26,419 (sold out)
One must admit that the heavy underdogs certainly responded well to the raucous audible support inside the packed Alm. The Teutoburgs played well above their level for long stretches during the loss to the mighty German giants.
A sold-out crowd in the DSC's home arena is something all Bundesliga enthusiasts remain pleased they got a chance to see before the time comes for German football's quintessential "yo-yo club" to head back down.
Ostern mit der Familie, herrlich! ⚽
— DSC Arminia Bielefeld (@arminia) April 18, 2022
👉 In unserer SchücoArena 🏟
👉 Um HALBVIER ⏰
👉 Bei strahlendem Sonnenschein ☀️
👉 Mit pickepackevollen Rängen 💪
Es war einfach schön, Euch alle begrüßen zu dürfen!#immerdabei #DSCFCB pic.twitter.com/Pjx9EGyJeg
Eintracht Frankfurt (at) FC Union Berlin
Attendance = 22,012 (sold out)
Visiting trainer Oliver Glasner took full responsibility for the squad rotations that effectively turned the visit to Köpenick into a "no-contest" fixture. After the emotional win over Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Thursday night, Glasner aptly described his team as "a lemon squeezed dry."
Oh well. At least the Eisernen ultras got a dominant performance to cheer on.
The fans made clear that they expected much more from their team in this potentially historic week. The Union supporters home to get one more "home game" in this season in the form of the DFB Pokal Final in Berlin's Olympiastadion. Best of luck on the trip to Leipzig, Jungs!
Guten Morgen, Unioner! Rein in eine historische Woche 🤩 pic.twitter.com/VTfwmZqnDr
— 1. FC Union Berlin (@fcunion) April 18, 2022
SpVgg Greuther Fürth (at) TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
Attendance = 16,110 (53.4%)
As usual, it was all quiet on the Sinsheim front. The visiting supporters made their voices heard at the PreZero. Neither team truly made much heard on the pitch in a match that ended in a 0-0 draw. So it goes in Kraichgau. No real fan news to pull from this club.
RB Leipzig (at) Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Attendance = 26,119 (86.5%)
Not necessarily a shock to see this fixture not sell out as predicted in the primer. It was, after all, Easter Sunday in the sleepy company town on the first year that family gatherings didn't risk running afoul of pandemic restrictions.
Fairly sleepy match as well. Luckily for those of us watching, the Nord Kurve was out in full force.
86.| 📢 "Auf geht's Bayer, KÄMPFEN und siegen..."#B04RBL 0:1 | #Bayer04 | #Werkself pic.twitter.com/0WvmW3O9Dm
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04fussball) April 17, 2022
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