One-Way Rivalry

Neither inner-city opponents like Union Berlin or TeBe nor Energie Cottbus from provincial Brandenburg are considered to be Hertha BSC's main rivals. No, this iffy honour dues Schalke 04.

What is particularly astonishing for various reasons. First of all, Gelsenkirchen is about 320 miles away and really no one there seems to give a shit about Berlin or Hertha. The capital club are perceived as an Bundesliga competitor just like the rest of the league. Nothing more, nothing less.

And then, what are we to think about a rivalry which is allegedly based on two incidents in the 60s and 70s while keeping in mind that a majority of Herthas's following exist only since 1997. Even in the 90s, they had gates of 3,000 and lower.

To cut a long story short: Sounds not very authentic to me.

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Hansa Rostock–FC St. Pauli rivalry

Following the xenophobic Lichtenhagen riots in 1992, both sets of fans clashed for the first time during a 2. Bundesliga match one year later. St. Pauli's left-wing attitude and nationalistic tendencies amongst parts of the Hansa fan scene seemed to "connect" immediately.

These incidents were inspiration for the 1993 drama movie Schicksalsspiel (English title: Soccer love).  In a Romeo and Juliet kind of story, a St. Pauli supporter falls in love with a local waitress before an away game in Rostock. Back in Hamburg, the trouble starts.

As of today, there have been 16 competitive matches between the teams. Hansa won 10 and St. Pauli 6 with no draw, yet. Their last meeting on November 19 in Rostock saw a new quality of violence. In the course of a 1-3 defeat, Hansa fans started shooting firework missiles into the away end. A level of behaviour even worsened by an applauding and cheering mob of morons. Dumbstruck.

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