Steffen Baumgart reflects on forthcoming East German Derby between Union Berlin and RB Leipzig | OneFootball

For Bundesliga lovers, meetings between Union Berlin and RB Leipzig in the topflight over the past six seasons has always served as a derby of sorts. Two East German clubs – one a new concoction and another deeply steeped in tradition – represent contrasting values in German football. Unfortunately for the German Red Bulls, Union’s rise to the first division eroded some of the sympathy Leipzig enjoyed among the Bundesliga faithful.

Matters get even more interesting in this coming Saturday evening’s Topspiel when, for the first time, the two sides will square off under the lights led by two East German head coaches. Leipzig native Marco Rose has helmed his hometown-club for over two years. Rostock native Steffen Baumgart was placed in charge of the club he represented as a player between 2002 and 2004 over the winter break.

Both Rose and Baumgart enjoyed plenty of popularity during their playing days. The two men also largely enjoy respect for the work they’ve put in during their respective coaching careers. Baumgart found himself tasked with explaining what it felt like to face Rose when introduced at his current appointment. On Friday, the FCU trainer also had to comment on the ritual “atmosphere boycott” Union fans will engage in every time their team hosts RB.

“It happens elsewhere too,” Baumgart said of the 15 minutes of after kick-off that usually greets Leipzig on the road. “We respect that. It’s part of the [German] game that people express themselves. Let’s assume that I’ll be heard very well [from the sidelines] in the first quarter-of-an-hour. That suits. Leipzig pile on a lot of pressure early.

“I wouldn’t call it a derby,” Baumgart also noted when discussing the general connotations of the match. “It’s merely a game with a lot of explosive potential. Leipzig have established themselves as a top tier club. From my perspective, they’ve done so professionally. They’ve built something over a significant period of time.”

When Baumgart was introduced as Union Berlin head coach at the beginning of this month, he actually directly spoke about what it felt like to play against Rose in his first match as a Union player in August 2002. On the opening day of the 2002/03 campaign, Union hosted Rose’s Mainz 05 in a 2. Bundesliga match at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei in Köpenick.

Baumgart was introduced by head coach Georgi Vasilev in the 56th minute of what would end in a 2-0 loss for the home side against Jürgen Klopp’s Rheinhessen. The result notwithstanding, Baumgart still recalled the standing ovation he received from the Union supporters when he talked the ball away from Klopp’s fullback.

“I came on in the second half and executed my first tackle,” Baumgart said at his official introduction on January 2nd. “Marco Rose was my first victim. After that, the whole [fan] block stood. In that moment, a love that never went away was born.“

GGFN | Peter Weis