Blue Dream Trail (Soccer) - Episode 40

──Sunday, October 8, 2028

Bundesliga Matchday 6

*Borussia Dortmund vs Augsburg

@Signal Iduna Park (away)

2nd place last season

Last year’s match results

Two losses vs Dortmund.

What unfolds before your eyes is yellow and black madness.

The slope of the stadium was like a wall.

Capacity: 81,000.

The largest in Germany and one of the most fascinating places in Europe.

“Damn… I’m seriously suffocating.”

The young player, who was stepping onto the pitch for the first time, couldn’t help but mutter.

Ren nodded silently.

Even though it was his third year, he still had a faint sense of fear deep in his heart.

(In this atmosphere, can we fight now?)

kick off.

And soon the storm hit.

Dortmund’s pressure was as heavy as that of Marseille in the Champions League.

Speed, strength, and unwavering coordination.

The sides, in particular, were targeted thoroughly, with the fullbacks often finding themselves on the defensive.

In the 9th minute, the right side was broken down, and a goal was conceded.

In the 18th minute, they broke through the center to score their second goal.

In the 26th minute, a flash of fire on the counter led to the third goal.

Ren, on the pitch, just gritted his teeth.

(…I wasn’t involved in all of this, though–)

(Someone has to stop it. Someone has to change the flow.)

In the 30th minute, Ren stole the ball in midfield.

He immediately dribbled forward and passed the ball to a teammate on the right.

However, the trap went too far, and the ball went to the opponent.

“Hey, that’s…!”

Ren shouted without thinking, but his voice was drowned out by the loud noise from the stadium.

Halftime.

The score is 0-3.

The players’ faces were tinged with fatigue and resignation.

After drinking the water, he stood up.

“In the second half, I’ll run more and set things up.

We will also be vocal in our defense. So… everyone, don’t give up and keep moving.”

No one replied.

However, several people, including Kemmer and Himmel, exchanged glances and nodded.

58th minute of the second half.

With a pass from Ren, they broke down the side and earned a corner kick.

In the scramble that followed the corner kick, Ren picked up the loose ball,

Kick the ball directly into the right side of the goal.

1-3. The seeds of a counterattack.

But there was no enthusiasm.

The atmosphere in Dortmund remains the same.

And just five minutes later.

Another goal from a counterattack. 1-4.

The game is over.

Augsburg was defeated.

There was no anger or regret on Ren’s face as he left the pitch.

Just one thing–

Emptiness.

And there’s a quiet question deep inside.

(What can I do? What can I change?)

The bus back home.

Kemar muttered next to him.

“My voice and feelings aren’t reaching you.”

“This is the first time I’ve ever been in such a situation.”

“…But if you don’t give it to us, it’s all zero.”

Ren replied, looking out the window.

The voice was quiet, but certainly lit.

———

Thank you as always m(__)m

Thank you for your reviews, support, and comments.

*Borussia Dortmund

Commonly known as “BVB” or “Dortmund”, the club embodies all of the enthusiasm, pride and passion. It is no exaggeration to say that it is the club with the strongest “unity with its supporters” in the Bundesliga.

✨ In one word…

“The black and yellow army fights with pride and passion.”

🟡⚫ The culture, atmosphere, and characteristics of Borussia Dortmund

1) Supporter culture symbolized by the “Yellow Wall”

– The world-famous home stadium, Signal Iduna Park (formerly Westfalenstadion).

・The South Stand features the “Yellow Wall” (Gelbe Wand), which can accommodate approximately 25,000 people.

→ Europe’s largest “standing room only and cheering area”.

– During the match, the pitch is filled with thunderous cheers and bouncing waves.

– The supporters’ cheering continues for 90 minutes plus additional time, and this is the spirit of Dortmund that does not change even when they are losing.

② A working town and a “soul club”

– Dortmund is a coal mining town and the central city of the Ruhr region.

-Like Schalke, it is a city where working-class pride and unity remain strong.

-For this reason, clubs particularly favor players who “sweat and show fighting spirit.”

・There is a culture that values ​​”warriors” more than flashy athletes.

3) A “development club” and a “passionate club”

・High ability to develop young players and help them soar into the world:

・Lewandowski, Haaland, Bellingham, Gundogan, Shinji Kagawa, etc.

However, rather than simply being a “club that sells,” the club takes pride in being a “stage” where the club can shine at its best, even if only for a short time.

– The broad-mindedness and generosity of “If they want to raise us and then leave, that’s fine.”

4) Being the “anti-Bayern”

-One of the few clubs that can take on the reigning champions Bayern Munich head-on.

– Although there have been many years in which they have fallen short of Bayern in terms of points, they have a strong sense that they are not inferior in terms of the weight of their spirit.

– In 2011-12, they won consecutive titles under manager Jurgen Klopp, causing a “revolution.”

⑤ Ties with residents

– A culture where players regularly participate in local events and residents have daily contact with the club.

– There is a very strong sense that “the club belongs to the citizens,” and the voice of the fans influences how the club is run.

– Ticket prices are relatively cheap, making it easy for ordinary people to watch the games.