#TSG10: "Welcome to the Bundesliga"

16 August 2008 was not just a historic day for the 11 men on the pitch, but also for TSG fans. It was the first game in the Bundesliga. After marching directly through the Regionalliga, the club had arrived where it wanted to be, in the House of Lords.

The debut was far from home soil. It's 390 miles from Sinsheim to the 'Stadion der Freundschaft', where FC Energie Cottbus hosted the guests from Kraichgau on that Saturday, at the classic Bundesliga time of 15:30 CET. In addition to Rangnick's squad, the supporters also wanted to show that the team was worthy of top-class football. "The buses left at 5 in the morning," said Norbert Schell from Tiefenbach. The reception in Brandenburg fell short of being a warm one, recalled the 68-year-old who said, "We were scrupulously checked, we even had to take off our shoes."  In the stadium, the TSG supporters even had to cough up more than the home fans for a half-time snack, "I can't remember the exact prices anymore, but a sausage cost at least 1 euro more in our stand." The reward had to come from the pitch.

Ibišević scores the first Bundesliga goal

The team from Kraichgau had to wait all of 17 minutes before they could celebrate their first Bundesliga goal. Beck flung the ball high into the box, Ba nodded it on to Ibišević who didn't even give the defender Cvitanović nor the keeper Tremmel a chance before enshrining himself forever into TSG club history. It was TSG's first ever goal in the Bundesliga and the start of an offensive masterpiece in the first half of the season.

"We celebrated like mad," remembers Bruno Münch from Hassmersheim. Whilst the travelling TSG supporters cheered and embraced along with him, Cottbus stood on the pitch in shock, they were no threat up front and nervous at the back. That all changed shortly before half-time. After a long cross, Sørensen headed the ball into Hoffenheim's goal. "It was moment of shock, but Sørensen had jostled our goalkeeper 'Rambo' Özcan to the ground and referee Guido Winkmann signaled no goal," explained the 73-year-old.

Top of the league after the first Matchday

After the break, the team from Lausitz started stronger, increasing the pressure which made them prone to counter-attacks. In the 55th minute, the team from Kraichgau calmly took advantage of that. After a pass from Ibišević, Demba Ba took on defender Mitreski and keeper Tremmel, to make it 2-0 to TSG. Hoffenheim continued to have chances and in the final moments, Cottbus threw everyone forward. Needless to say, their defence had packed up and gone home. Beck, Compper, Ibertsberger and the substitute Jaissle, kept the TSG backline secure. In the 76th minute, Ibišević's header made everything clear. Final Score: 3-0, League Position: Top, together with FC Schalke 04.

 

 

The travelling fans were over the moon. Münch's celebrations were uncontainable. Although he figured that his team would play a strong season, he fondly remembers, "We anticipated that we'd do well, which was not a surprise when you think of the players we had: Eduardo, Obasi, Gustavo.." In all the years he has not missed more than 10 games, but the debut will always be special. "I'm proud to have been part of the first ever Bundesliga game."

On the way home from the 'Stadion der Freundschaft' (Stadium of Friendship), the atmosphere was far less than friendly. "A crowd of Cottbus fans stood in front of our 25 seater bus and tried to turn it over," told Schell. The police quickly came to assist and the group was able to drive away and celebrate unscathed. "That was our first impression - welcome to the Bundesliga," said Schell. This historic Matchday was the start of a success story which led to being autumn Champions in the debut season and later to the Champions League.