2022 in review: Improvements on the pitch and aid for Ukraine

In our review of 2022, we take another look at March and April. In addition to the upturn in form and the return of fans to BORUSSIA-PARK, these months were particularly marked by solidarity and support for the war victims in Ukraine.

ON THE PITCH

After a tough 3-2 defeat to Stuttgart in a game which Borussia led 2-0, the Foals went on to pick up ten points in the following four games and moved away from the dangerous end of the table thanks to 2-0 victories over Hertha BSC, VfL Bochum and Greuther Fürth. The game against Bochum was suspended with the team 2-0 ahead, when assistant referee Christian Gittelmann was struck by a beer cup. The other point came in a 1-1 draw against Mainz. After four unbeaten, the run came to an end in the derby against 1. FC Köln, with Adi Hütter’s side beaten 3-1 at BORUSSIA-PARK. Next up was an away trip to SC Freiburg for the first-ever meeting at the Europa-Park Stadium. Like in the game against Stuttgart, Borussia squandered a 2-0 lead before Lars Stindl made it 3-3 in injury time.

STANDOUT MOMENT

Fans were finally able to fill BORUSSIA-PARK in April and brought with them the long-lost atmosphere in the stadium. For the first time since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, there were no capacity restrictions at a home game as the Foals hosted FSV Mainz 05. A total of 44,200 spectators watched the 1-1 draw. BORUSSIA-PARK was completely sold out again for the first time since the pandemic for the derby against 1. FC Köln, with 54,042 spectators in attendance. Unfortunately, the visitors came out on top in a 3-1 defeat for Borussia. Sporting director Roland Virkus said: “We all had great expectations. With the stadium full again after such a long time, the atmosphere was fantastic. The fans were expecting a successful game. When we’re 3-0 down at half-time, I can understand how the mood was ruined.”

OFF THE PITCH

• Mirko Sandmöller succeeded Roland Virkus and took on the role of director of the youth academy. The 38-year-old has been at Borussia since 2008.
• Under the motto “Borussia hilft” (Borussia helps), the club organised numerous aid campaigns for the victims of the war in Ukraine. The club’s fundraising campaign donated €94,269 - one euro for every club member. Wives and girlfriends of the first-team players also collected donations for the people of Ukraine and Borussia provided €80,000 worth of medicine for the victims.
• Rainer Bonhof celebrated his 70th birthday. To mark the occasion, he shared an insight into his world and emotions and what he had achieved during his time as Borussia's vice-president during a tour of the city.
• As part of the special exhibition “Berlin, Berlin, wir waren in Berlin” (Berlin, Berlin, we were in Berlin) at the FohlenWelt, there was a reunion with the DFB-Pokal winners of 1995. The former players met at BORUSSIA-PARK and visited the special exhibition as well as the club’s the home game against Mainz 05.
• Borussia mourned the loss of Friedel Schicks. Schicks played for the club from 1949 to 1959 and celebrated promotion to the first division on two occasions as a Foal in 1950 and 1952. He passed away at the beginning of April at the age of 93.
• Borussia and BRAX agreed on an extension to their sponsorship agreement that has been in place since 2010. Borussia also extended with the private brewery Bolten, which also began in 2010, until the end of the 2024/25 season.

IN WORDS:

Adi Hütter: “After getting things moving in the right direction, the defeat in the derby was obviously a kick in the teeth. That’s understandable given the huge importance of the game. If we show what we can do in the remaining four games of the season and give it everything we've got and pick up as many points as possible, we can save our season to some extent.”