This euphoria is remarkable: VfL Osnabrück is heading straight for relegation to the third division, but the fans are flocking to the Bremer Brücke. This was also the case against Schalke 04.
When VfL Osnabrück face FC Schalke 04 on Saturday, May 4, it is quite possible that the relegation of the Lower Saxons to the third division is already certain. The purple-and-whites are currently eight points behind the 16th relegation spot and are last in the Bundesliga 2.
This does not dampen the euphoria surrounding VfL Osnabrück’s home games. On Wednesday, April 3, the club from Lower Saxony launched the first sales phase for the home sections against FC Schalke 04. All available tickets were sold out within a short space of time.
On Thursday, April 4, the remaining home tickets went on sale. Unsurprisingly, they were also quickly snapped up. “Once again, it was a matter of a few minutes. The match against Schalke is completely sold out,” VfL announced in the afternoon. The guest block will of course also be full to the brim with Schalke fans eager to travel.
This means that everything is set for a heated basement duel at Bremer Brücke. What Osnabrück are hoping for, Schalke would like to avoid. After all, Schalke 04 have their sights set on mid-table and could finally distance themselves from the basement with a win. Wehen Wiesbaden, 1. FC Magdeburg and SV Elversberg are all within reach
As things stand, Osnabrück need at least three wins to reach 16th place. It could be that the Lower Saxons are already mathematically relegated before the 32nd matchday. However, the euphoria and the fans’ desire to visit the time-honored stadium at Bremer Brücke will obviously not be dampened. An overview of the two teams’ remaining programs:
FC Schalke 04 (14th place, 31 points, -12 goals): Hannover 96 (A)
1st FC Nuremberg (H)
SV Elversberg (A)
Fortuna Düsseldorf (H)
VfL Osnabrück (A)
Hansa Rostock (H)
Greuther Fürth (A)
VfL Osnabrück (18th place, 21 points, -28 goals):
SpVgg Greuther Fürth (H)
Holstein Kiel (A)
Eintracht Braunschweig (H)
1. FC Magdeburg (A)
FC Schalke 04 (H)
FC St. Pauli (A)
Hertha BSC (H)