Rot-Weiss Essen will be playing away at MSV Duisburg on Sunday evening (7:30 p.m.). 4,000 RWE fans will be in attendance, and strict security measures will be in place.
The 3rd division has its local derby back. After MSV Duisburg’s relegation in the 2023/24 season, the duel between the Zebras and Rot-Weiss Essen took place only once last season in the Lower Rhine Cup. In May, RWE prevailed 2-1 in a very emotional match that was overshadowed by the tragic death of a Duisburg fan.
The first meeting between the two rival clubs from the Ruhr region will take place this Sunday at the unusual kick-off time of 7:30 p.m. at the Schauninsland-Reisen-Arena. Over 28,000 spectators are expected, including almost 4,000 visitors from Essen. The match has been sold out for weeks and has both cities buzzing.
The duel between the two former Bundesliga clubs poses a major challenge for the authorities. In a press statement, the police announced that they would be on duty “with reinforced forces” throughout the day on Sunday. Due to its explosive nature, the match has been classified as a “high-risk game.”
“Numerous emergency services will be present in the city area and around the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, including the state mounted police, service dog handlers, and the riot police. They will also be responsible for ensuring that fans are kept apart in an orderly manner. The Duisburg police will also receive support from other authorities,” according to the press release from the Duisburg police.
Rot-Weiss Essen fans are expected by the police
RWE fans are asked to use “only the south-east entrance.” Furthermore, all spectators are advised to arrive early on Sunday. Due to the expected high volume of traffic, delays are to be expected, particularly on the A59 and on the access roads to the arena. The stadium will open to visitors at 5:30 p.m., two hours before the match. Fans of Rot-Weiss Essen arriving by train will be met by a large police presence at Schlenk station and then escorted to the stadium. Regular S1 train services will stop there. The walk to the stadium from there takes around 15 minutes.
Glass ban around the MSV Duisburg stadium
Also please note: There is a glass ban in the vicinity of the Duisburg stadium. Glass bottles and other glass containers may not be carried or used.
Further detailed information on the large-scale police operation for the MSV Duisburg vs. Rot-Weiss Essen derby is available at
