Conference League: Mainz 05 vs. RC Strasbourg is effectively a local derby.

But ten-man VfB Stuttgart are beaten 4-1 on aggregate by FC Porto, Deniz Undav missing a couple of decent chances on the day he was called up for Germany‘s final pre-World Cup squad.

"Let us banish any doubts - today we‘ll write history" 🇩🇪 Historic results for #Bundesliga sides in Europe tonight: 🔴 SC Freiburg reach Europa League quarter-final for the first time 🇪🇸 Next: Celta Vigo 🔴 Mainz 05 reach Conference League quarter-final for the first time 🇫🇷/🇭🇷 Next: Strasbourg/Rijeka

„Hier geht es nicht mehr um Sicherheit im engeren Sinn, sondern um staatliche Überwachung im öffentlichen Raum – und um die Frage, ob ein Fußballstadion der Ort sein soll, an dem Grundrechte versuchsweise eingeschränkt werden.“ @feverpitchbs.bsky.social www.feverpitch.de/innenministe...

🇩🇪 On the terraces this week: 🔷 HSV Volksparkett 🇲🇨 Two-part Köln display 🔵 Magdeburg ultras circumvent block closure 🔴 Choreo: Kaiserslautern vs. Karlsruhe 👮‍♂️ But: ministers still pushing unfounded stadium security concerns Full stories on Gegenpressing: gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...

The tournament which just keeps giving. And taking. #afcon www.dw.com/en/afcon-sen...

Keine deutsche Fußballübertragung mehr ohne die "crunchtime." Schon jetzt Anglizismus des Jahres.

🐦 Werder Bremen pigeon update on Gegenpressing Plus: 🔷 HSV's individual quality 🇲🇨 Köln ahead of must-win derby 📈 Relegation battle 🔴 And what are Bayern moaning about? 🎙️ #Bundesliga podcast with @manuelveth.bsky.social & @danwighton.bsky.social

🇩🇪 Gegenpressing Monday Bulletin including bits from me on: 🔷 How HSV have overtaken Köln 🐦 How a pigeon helped Mainz 🟢 Why Bremen are so harmless Plus more from @manuelveth.bsky.social, @sbienkowski.bsky.social & @danwighton.bsky.social #bundesliga gegenpressing.substack.com/p/monday-bul...

🇩🇪 Long weekend covering the #Bundesliga relegation battle up in the Hamburg & Bremen: Hamburger SV 1-1 1. FC Köln SV Werder Bremen 0-2 1. FSV Mainz 05 🎙️ Reports, impressions and thoughts on Gegenpressing tomorrow - bulletin and podcast

🇩🇪 On the terraces this week: 🔴 Bayern ultras double down on police violence allegations 🐺 Wolfsburg in crisis after HSV humiliation 🟢 Preußen Münster ultras pull plug on VAR 🔵 Choreo of the week: Karlsruher SC Full stories on Gegenpressing ⬇️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...

🎙️ Gegenpressing podcast live from Leverkusen last night with @manuelveth.bsky.social and (eventually) @sbienkowski.bsky.social 🔴 Almost a defensive masterclass 🔴 Leverkusen with the set-piece goal 🔴 A very silly challenge from Tillman 🔴 Havertz returns ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/leverkusen...

FT: Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal Havertz, on return to Leverkusen, draws Arsenal level from the spot late on after a silly Tillman foul undermines what was almost a defensive masterclass and an opening goal from Andrich which was straight out of Arsenal‘s set-piece playbook. B04 still in the tie. #UCL

HT: Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal Martinelli off the bar but it’s been Arsenal‘s only real chance. B04 defending extremely well in a 5-4-1 while Kofane keeps Gabriel & Saliba busy at the other end. Leverkusen captain Andrich perhaps lucky to be on the pitch after two early fouls on Gyökeres. #UCL

🇩🇪 On the terraces this week: 🔴 Bayern ultras double down on police violence allegations 🐺 Wolfsburg in crisis after HSV humiliation 🟢 Preußen Münster ultras pull plug on VAR 🔵 Choreo of the week: Karlsruher SC Full stories on Gegenpressing ⬇️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...

🇩🇪 Off to Leverkusen vs. Arsenal later but first: 🎙️ Podcast: Injuries mar Bayern‘s emphatic Atalanta win ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/bayern-mun... 🗞️ [Free to read!] #Bundesliga relegation battle: Bremen resurgent but are Köln really that bad? ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/monday-bul...

Going live with @matt4d.bsky.social and @manuelveth.bsky.social to discuss the Bayern game in about 10 minutes: open.substack.com/live-stream/...

How on earth did Borussia Dortmund lose to both Tottenham and Atalanta? 😳

Update from SC Preußen Münster basically saying: "Could’ve just plugged it back in." Outstanding stuff 😂 scpreussen-muenster.de/news/aufarbe... #ScrapVAR

"Pull the plug on VAR!" SC Preußen Münster ultras literally pulled the plug on the VAR screen during a penalty check during their team‘s 2. Bundesliga game vs. Hertha BSC. The Hertha pen was ultimately given by the video assistant - and scored. FT: Münster 1-2 Hertha 📷 @stefandoering.bsky.social

"Pull the plug on VAR!" SC Preußen Münster ultras literally pulled the plug on the VAR screen during a penalty check during their team‘s 2. Bundesliga game vs. Hertha BSC. The Hertha pen was ultimately given by the video assistant - and scored. FT: Münster 1-2 Hertha 📷 @stefandoering.bsky.social

#BVB head coach Niko Kovac's three-sentence match summary: "Apart from the three points, I wasn’t happy with my team‘s performance. Either in the first half or the second. That’s it." #bundesliga

FT: 1. FC Köln 1-2 Borussia Dortmund Moments after ten-man FC miss a chance to equalise (partly due to El Mala‘s poor first touch), Beier doubles BVB‘s lead. Kaminski pulls one back but too little, too late. Köln now winless in five and could be 15th come tomorrow. Relegation battle. #bundesliga

HT: 1. FC Köln 0-1 Borussia Dortmund Flattering #BVB lead thanks to Guirassy after Köln concede a silly corner and fail to clear. Otherwise, FC the better team: Ache with good hold-up play, El Mala & Niang (both 19) with decent chances - but no goal. And then: Simpson-Pusey sent off. #bundesliga

🇩🇪 On the terraces this week: 🔴 Bayern ultras boycott Klassiker amid more allegations of police violence 🟢 Werder Bremen capo gives motivational stadium address 🔵 HSV ultras protest against kick-off times - and red bull 🟣 Choreo of the Week: VfL Osnabrück gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...

🎙️ Podcast: The #Bundesliga has announced new financial regulations limiting squad costs to no more than 70% of club income. Won't have a huge immediate effect on most clubs - but does show a desire on the part of the league for financial sustainability. gegenpressing.substack.com/p/bundesliga...

As private equity firms - which now have their claws in 40% of Europe’s top clubs - buckle under €3 trillion in unsold assets, the Bundesliga's unique 50+1 rule is starting to look less like a relic of the past and more like a blueprint for the future. gegenpressing.substack.com/p/the-bundes...

Wir befinden uns wieder einmal mitten in einer Sicherheitsdebatte – doch diesmal fühlt sich vieles anders an. Über martialische Polizeiaufgebote im Westfalenstadion, Übergriffe auf Gästefans und Ausreiseverbote zu internationalen Spielen. Eine Analyse über den Fußball am Scheideweg.

Manchester ♥️ #mufc 🇾🇪

"Even the biggest Borussia pig should be in the stadium - whether in Germany or internationally: freedom of travel for fans!" VfB Stuttgart supporters vs. Celtic last night after Borussia Dortmund fans were prevented from travelling to Bergamo this week.

Over 10,000 VfL Bochum supporters away at Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga this evening - their biggest away following since May 2023 in Berlin. 📷 @danwighton.bsky.social

🎙️ Reaction to Borussia Dortmund‘s Champions League exit - and the controversial travel bans issued to some #BVB supporters - over on Gegenpressing. w/ @manuelveth.bsky.social ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/a-night-to...

🇩🇪 On the terraces this week: 🇮🇹 #BVB ultras to boycott Atalanta away tonight - latest 🇲🇨 Köln, Kwasniok & Kompany 🔵 Schalke: Edin Dzeko on Nordkurve 🟣 Aue pitch invasion amid flag saga 🟢 Choreo of the week: Hannover 96 Full stories on Gegenpressing ⬇️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...

"No to blacklists - for free travel and free support!" Atalanta ultras' banner in solidarity with absent Borussia Dortmund counterparts who are boycotting after hundreds of fans were issued with travel bans. Full story on Gegenpressing ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter... #atabvb #ucl

🇩🇪 On the terraces this week: 🇮🇹 #BVB ultras to boycott Atalanta away tonight - latest 🇲🇨 Köln, Kwasniok & Kompany 🔵 Schalke: Edin Dzeko on Nordkurve 🟣 Aue pitch invasion amid flag saga 🟢 Choreo of the week: Hannover 96 Full stories on Gegenpressing ⬇️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...

Update: Borussia Dortmund express their "surprise" at the "disproportionate" measures taken against their supporters en route to Bergamo, which they say are "completely incomprehensible." Full statement: www.bvb.de/de/de/aktuel...

Borussia Dortmund's active fan scene and ultra groups will boycott the Champions League play-off second leg away at Atalanta Bergamo on Wednesday night after hundreds of #BVB fans were subject to spontaneous travel bans at German airports this week. Details so far:

Free to read: the Gegenpressing Monday Bulletin - one of the best yet, imo. 🇨🇦 Alphonso Davies‘ injury: @manuelveth.bsky.social with the latest 🇩🇪 RBL 2-2 BVB: @danwighton.bsky.social reports from Leipzig 🇩🇪 And I report from Mainz & Munich #bundesliga gegenpressing.substack.com/p/monday-bul...

Counter-attack. Away end. Movements. Get in. #mufc 🇾🇪

The key to a good atmosphere isn’t the design of a stand for marketing purposes; it’s affordable, accessible, flexible ticketing on a large scale so as to give a young, independent fan culture space to grow. Yes, English football limited by law to an extent. But also by a consumerist mentality.

Just like with Tottenham‘s new ground, much made of Everton‘s new "terrace" being somehow modelled on BVB‘s Südtribüne. Quick season ticket comparison behind goal: Tottenham: €1,100+ Everton: €870+ BVB: €260 (unreserved standing, actually most exp. in the #Bundesliga) Smart, but no comparison.

Free to read: the Gegenpressing Monday Bulletin - one of the best yet, imo. 🇨🇦 Alphonso Davies‘ injury: @manuelveth.bsky.social with the latest 🇩🇪 RBL 2-2 BVB: @danwighton.bsky.social reports from Leipzig 🇩🇪 And I report from Mainz & Munich #bundesliga gegenpressing.substack.com/p/monday-bul...

FC St. Pauli 2-1 SV Werder Bremen St. Pauli up into the play-off spot with a second consecutive home win. New Werder coach Daniel Thioune as yet unable to end a winless run stretching back to November. Fellow relegation candidates Heidenheim, Mainz & Wolfsburg to come in next 4 games. #bundesliga

🏆 DFB Pokal semi-final draw: VfB Stuttgart vs. SC Freiburg Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich Remarkably, the only one of those teams which have not been in a semi-final since 2020: Bayern Munich. Fixtures to be played 21st/22nd April

We’ve been doing some immediate Substack lives from #Bundesliga games this season for Gegenpressing subscribers, which we think are good fun. Sign up and get involved! Full ten mins from Munich yesterday over on Gegenpressing ➡️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/live-from-...

🇩🇪 "Das war ein untypischer Fehler von uns" Ich habe Vincent Kompany über die Fehlerkette gefragt, die heute zum zweiten Frankfurter Treffer geführt hat. [ab 07:40] #bundesliga www.youtube.com/live/FgrslUK...

FT: Bayern Munich 3-2 Eintracht Frankfurt Not as comfortable as it should’ve been for Bayern after a wild second half in which Kane conceded(!) a penalty before Kimmich&Kim conspired to gift an improved Frankfurt a slapstick second. Götze almost equalised in injury time but Bayern held on. Drama.

Harry Kane has never missed a Bundesliga penalty - but he has now conceded one, inadvertently whacking Höjlund on the heel while attempting a clearance. Clear penalty, which Burkardt converts to make it 3-1. #bundesliga

HT: Bayern Munich 2-0 Eintracht Frankfurt Bayern dominant but Frankfurt haven’t helped themselves: Pavlovic‘s volley was well-struck but Kaua Santos should stop it. And if the plan was to man-mark Kane, it‘s gone out the window at corners. Little danger of Kimmich picking up a 5th yellow so far.

🇩🇪 On the terraces this week: 🟡 BVB slam Atalanta away ticket policy 🟢 Augsburg fans demand: Scrap VAR! 🎈 Karneval goes kaputt for Köln & Mainz 🎂 Happy birthday, Chemnitzer FC 🌍 Regionalliga-Reform 🔷 Choreo of the week: HSV Full stories on Gegenpressing ⬇️ gegenpressing.substack.com/p/on-the-ter...