Union Berlin welcomed 4,500 fans to its 2-0 win over Nuremberg on Saturday in the biggest attendance so far for a soccer team in Germany during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Bundesliga was suspended in March. No supporters had been allowed when the league resumed and completed its season after a two-month break.
Click to Gallery
Union Berlin welcomed 4,500 fans to its 2-0 win over Nuremberg on Saturday in the biggest attendance so far for a soccer team in Germany during the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s really fantastic, I missed it,” Cornelia Packhäuser told The Associated Press before attending her first game in six months. “It’s great that fans are allowed in, even with the (hygiene) measures. My family is totally split up. One is in sector one, one is in sector two, one is in sector three, but we can be there, and to be there is everything.”
Seats were clearly marked to show which could be used, and standing fans were asked to keep their distance from each other on the terraces. Stewards asked fans who were too close to each other to move. Journalists had their temperatures taken and were seated apart, while photographers were allocated places where they had to stay.
Nuremberg now plays in the second division. Two second-half goals, including a penalty from Danish forward Marcus Ingvartsen, were enough for Union. Fans sang long and loud, as if to make up for those who were absent.
Nuremberg's scorer Nikola Dovedan, third right, and his teammates celebrate their side's first goal during a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
Nuremberg's Pascal Koepke, left, and Union's Marvin Friedrich, right, challenge for the ball during a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
Nuremberg's Lukas Muehl, left, and Union's Marius Buelter, right, challenge for the ball during a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
Supporters attend the club's anthem prior to a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
Nuremberg's Pascal Koepke, left, and Union's Marvin Friedrich, right, challenge for the ball during a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
Supporters attend the warm up prior to a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
Union fans welcomed the chance to attend the preseason friendly match against Nuremberg.
Supporters attend the club's anthem prior to a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
“It’s really fantastic, I missed it,” Cornelia Packhäuser told The Associated Press before attending her first game in six months. “It’s great that fans are allowed in, even with the (hygiene) measures. My family is totally split up. One is in sector one, one is in sector two, one is in sector three, but we can be there, and to be there is everything.”
Fans were only permitted to attend the game – which doubled as a celebration of 100 years of Union’s stadium – under stringent conditions.
Tickets were for club members only, personalized and non-transferable to ensure contact-tracing is possible. The supporters had to show ID and their club membership card before entering, and they had to wear masks when not in their allocated place.
Supporters attend the warm up prior to a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
Seats were clearly marked to show which could be used, and standing fans were asked to keep their distance from each other on the terraces. Stewards asked fans who were too close to each other to move. Journalists had their temperatures taken and were seated apart, while photographers were allocated places where they had to stay.
“It’s sad that it’s so empty, but it’s wonderful to be here again,” Union fan Mark Schôffler said. The stadium capacity is around 22,000.
Then-German champion Nuremberg played Union for the first match at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei in 1920.
Union's scorer Marcus Ingvartsen, right, and his teammates celebrate the opening goal during a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
Nuremberg now plays in the second division. Two second-half goals, including a penalty from Danish forward Marcus Ingvartsen, were enough for Union. Fans sang long and loud, as if to make up for those who were absent.
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Ciarán Fahey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cfaheyAP
Nuremberg's Johannes Geis, left, and Union's Sebastian Griesbeck, right, challenge for the ball during a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
Nuremberg's scorer Nikola Dovedan, third right, and his teammates celebrate their side's first goal during a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
Nuremberg's Pascal Koepke, left, and Union's Marvin Friedrich, right, challenge for the ball during a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
Nuremberg's Lukas Muehl, left, and Union's Marius Buelter, right, challenge for the ball during a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
Supporters attend the club's anthem prior to a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
Nuremberg's Pascal Koepke, left, and Union's Marvin Friedrich, right, challenge for the ball during a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)
Supporters attend the warm up prior to a friendly soccer match between the German first division, Bundesliga, team 1. FC Union Berlin and the second division team 1. FC Nuremberg in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)