What a race to catch up. Alemannia Aachen may not be through yet, but what is happening around the Tivoli under Heiner Backhaus deserves respect. A commentary.

It currently looks like Alemannia Aachen will be able to celebrate promotion to the 3rd division in the Regionalliga West.

And what kind of season has Aachen had? They were one of the favorites, they had openly announced that they wanted to be promoted. And then, after nine games, they had just two wins to their name. The gap to first place was as much as ten points. It felt like the season was already over.

And now? Alemannia is greeting everyone from the top, six points ahead of 1. FC Bocholt in second place after 25 games. You could call it the miracle of Aachen – or how Heiner Backhaus turned a team around.

He took over in September 2023 and has only lost one game since then – at 1. FC Bocholt. Of the last 16 matches, 14 have been won. Madness – which is only topped by the crowd at the Tivoli.

Almost 17,000 fans flock to the Tivoli for each home game, and Aachen now account for seven of the ten best-attended matches. By the end of the season, it will be all ten, which is not a bold prediction.

Aachen have always had over 20,000 visitors recently

Most recently, over 20,000 fans have always attended – Aachen naturally benefit from their large stadium, but you have to fill it first. They are not through yet, even if everything looks like it.

But should promotion be finalized, then the 3rd division can look forward to yet another drawcard. To a traditional club, to great backdrops. And another NRW representative that will enhance the league. Promotion would be well deserved, because there will be no club in the fourth division that has managed to follow up such a botched start with such an impressive series.

1) Alemannia Aachen – Rot-Weiss Essen (February 7, 2015 – 30,313 spectators)

2) Aachen – Wuppertaler SV (July 28, 2023 – 27,300 spectators)

3) Alemannia Aachen – Düsseldorf II (March 8, 2024 – 25,400 spectators)

3) Alemannia Aachen – RWO (February 10, 2024 – 22,700 spectators)

4) Alemannia Aachen – Gladbach II (April 17, 2015 – 21,200 spectators)

5) Alemannia Aachen – 1. FC Köln II (November 12, 2016 – 21,100 spectators)

6) Alemannia Aachen – FC Gütersloh (February 24, 2024 – 20,800 spectators)

7) Alemannia Aachen – 1. FC Düren (November 18, 2023 – 19,500 spectators)

8) Preußen Münster – Gladbach II (May 6, 2011 – 18,500 spectators)

9) Rot-Weiss Essen – Rot Weiss Ahlen (May 14, 2022 – 16,500 spectators?

10) Schalke II – Rot-Weiss Essen (August 17, 2009 – 16,495 spectators)