16 Feb, 2025

Union Frauen, topspiel against Nürnberg

Report by Arnfinn Kjos Eduardsen

I started following Union's women's team already in their last year playing in the regional league, on a smaller field just 600 meters from my apartment. At that time, they dominated the league and often won by double digits. Back then, it could be difficult to keep track of the score. Sometimes we wondered if it was 11-0 or 13-0. It went as it had to go, we qualified for the 2. Bundesliga and the arena was moved to Alte Forsterei – and there is a scoreboard, making it easy to keep track.

Union's goal with the women's team has always been to get them to the Bundesliga, but it is only from the start of this year that it has been officially stated – that the Bundesliga should be reached already after one year in the 2. Bundesliga.

Before the season, we knew the team was good, but also that the opposition would be stronger. That has been the case in the first half of the series – we have won many matches, but now it is easy to keep track. This is not only because there is a scoreboard at AF, but also because there have been significantly fewer goals than in the regional league.

Bamsegjengen has so far been represented at all home games. This time we are not just one or two as usual, but 4 bears. Since the men and women play at home on the same weekend, 4 bears are on their way to AF on February 16 to see the women, who are in second place, meet the league leaders 1. FC Nürnberg.

After a breakfast that once again consists of eggs and bacon, two well-dressed bears head to Köpenick. It is a chilly day, minus 3 degrees.

The stadium gates open an hour and a half before the match, but it is enough to be there an hour before the match starts. Union has set several attendance records in the 2. Bundesliga. There are also usually more people in the stands than there are at Bundesliga matches. Today there are 5400 in the stadium and only sectors 1 and 3 are open. There usually aren’t many from the away team; today I counted around 20.

We stand in our usual spot, and once again Jacob Sweetman, who is responsible for all information from Union in English, came down from the balcony to greet us. He has a fondness for Bamsegjengen.

The match started lively with good opportunities for both teams, but in the 14th minute, we got an easy goal after a goalkeeper's mistake. 1-0 was also the halftime result. After the break, Union was the dominant team, and the goals came one after another. In the end, it was 4-0, including a penalty. The pressure in the stadium was great, and the celebration of the victory took place in the usual Union manner.

After the match, Josh and I ran on snow-covered roads to bus 164 and "home" to Adlershof. There, Josh had only 50 minutes before the journey continued to the airport and from there to Manchester. I will stay in Berlin for 3 more days and will return for the next home game for the women!

EISERN!

Arnfinn Kjos Eduardsen – Bamsegjengen