Alemannia Aachen will host the U21s of 1. FC Köln on Friday evening. Coach Heiner Backhaus is delighted to welcome back four players.
Last matchday, Alemannia Aachen extended their lead at the top of the table to six points. Now the fixture list of the Regionalliga West allows the number one promotion favorites to go one better: in a floodlit match on Friday evening at the U21s of 1. FC Köln (7.30 pm, RS live ticker).
With a win, Aachen can increase the pressure on the chasing pack led by 1. FC Bocholt. After the 2:1 win against Düsseldorf’s U23s in front of over 25,000 spectators a week ago, Alemannia can rely on their fans this time too. With 2,500 visitors, the guest block has long been sold out and there will be no box office.
“I don’t know if there’s ever been an away game this season that didn’t feel like a home game,” said defender Robin Afamefuna ahead of the match. “Everything that happens here makes you want more. When you walk through the city, you notice that there’s a euphoria that hasn’t been here for a long time.” At the same time, he points out: “We haven’t achieved anything yet.”
If the Kaiserstädter continue their run of success with just one defeat since August and nine wins from the last ten games, that could change in the not too distant future. Coach Heiner Backhaus doesn’t want to hear any of that just yet, of course – he is calling for full focus on the upcoming task against the team in eighth place in the table
“We won’t face Cologne’s second team with any arrogance”. But “in the knowledge that we have a very good team that is driven by competition”.
And this Friday even more so than last time. Because the recently critical personnel situation is gradually easing a little. Aldin Dervisevic returns to the squad after breaking his fibula. Ulrich Bapoh, Franko Uzelac and Anton Heinz, who the fans recently voted player of the month for February, will also be back. “As a coach, you’re naturally pleased when you can start the training week with a larger number of players again,” said Backhaus.
Floodlit games are the best
Aachen coach Heiner Backhaus
Frederic Baum (muscular problems) and Julian Schwermann (suspension) are still missing, as are the long-term injured Sascha Marquet, Vincent Schaub, Anas Bakhat and Nils Winter.
Backhaus is looking forward to a hot dance under floodlights: “Floodlit games are the best. It’s great when you spend the whole day with the team and get in the mood here in the morning with the video analysis and the warm-up. On the highway, you’re followed by fans who honk their horns and get you fired up. “