The Unforgettable Bundesliga Match
On a nice afternoon on the 8th of September 2001, I was outside a football stadium waiting for an opportunity to get a last-minute ticket to the most anticipated Bundesliga match of the 2001-2002 season. I checked the counter and the tickets were sold out. I loitered in the vicinity until someone walked up to me and asked if I was interested in buying a ticket for the match. Without any hesitation, I asked how much, then I handed him DM 100 (Deutsche Marks). The ticket showed DM 10. I did not care as I would not have any opportunity to watch another match of this magnitude, a match-up between the Bundesliga Championship contenders Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich! Trix and I were staying in Oerlinghausen in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, only an hour and a half drive to the Westfalenstadion, the home of “Die Schwarzgelben”.
Experiencing the Yellow Wall
After securing the ticket, I immediately bought a jersey to make sure I blended in with the fans. Little did I expect that the ticket I bought was for the free-standing South Stand, also known as “Die Südtribüne”, or the “Yellow Wall”. For the entire duration of the match, there was non-stop chanting, and when Bayern’s goal was on our side of the pitch, defended by Oliver Kahn (no introductions necessary), the fans jeered as loud as they could to distract the keeper whenever Dortmund went for the goal. It was one crazy atmosphere, and although “Die Schwarzgelben” lost 0-2 that day, it was an experience to remember.
Dortmund’s 2024 UEFA Champions League Journey
Since then, I have become a BVB supporter and followed them until today. Not as much as before, but when I found out that they made it to the semifinals of this year’s UEFA Champions League, I had to follow them closely again. And today, on my birthday, they played their 2nd leg semifinal match against PSG, led by Mbappe, billed as the current world’s top football player. A 1:5 underdog going into this match but having a lead of 1-0 on aggregate, they just needed to shut down Mbappe and keep the final score 0-0 to reach this year’s Finals.
The Semifinal Triumph
But then, on the 50th minute, Hummels’ perfect header from a corner kick gave them a 1-0 lead on the match and 2-0 on aggregate. PSG tried desperately to fight back, but Kobel and the woodwork just denied all their attempts. Four of PSG’s strikes were stopped by the woodwork, four! It was just not their day and season.
Looking Ahead to the Final
And Dortmund will march to Wembley Stadium on June 1st for the Finals against Real Madrid, who won their own semifinals match-up against none other than BVB’s archrival, Bayern Munich. Had Bayern Munich made it past Real Madrid, it would have been another “Der Klassiker” final. BVB is a severe underdog in their finals match-up with Real, as they have been underdogs throughout this tournament. But here they are at the finals, hoping for another thrilling and historical game!
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