Very early on in the season to say this, but this clash between third and second from bottom in the Oberliga Mittelrhein feels an opportunity for a small statement by both teams. Gladbach have a quality stadium and a decent fan base (as I know from my visit a few weeks ago) and will be looking to go up. Having conceded 14 goals and only scored 3 so far, Endenich-Bonn have no such concerns.
This game brings me to the city that I grew up knowing as the capital of West Germany – a country which no longer exists except as a classic way of catching people out with World Cup-based quiz questions. Bonn is famous for other stuff of course – notably as being the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven. Can’t say I’m a fan (particularly) but I do really like ‘O welche Lust’ from ‘Fidelio’. Bonn is also of course home to melodic metalcore band We Are Wolf – again not a fan (particularly) but it’s always heartening when a band’s latest release is their best, and ‘Ruins of Infinity’ (August 2023) is certainly that for me.
