If you were given the task of picking two polar opposites in the world of football, two clubs that represent totally contrasting way of thinking, you would get maximum points for choosing 1.FC Union Berlin and RasenBallsport Leipzig.Union is a century-old people’s club that wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for their adoring supporters – quite literally. On the other hand, the fans of RB Leipzig became RB Leipzig fans just because Red Bull, one of the world’s richest companies decided that the city of Leipzig could do with a football club. That happened just over a decade ago.Union Berlin is one of those teams deeply rooted in the tradition and history of a local club built by workers out of nothing but pure love for the game. Union Berlin was started in the early twentieth century in a Berlin suburb and promptly gained the reputation of being a worker’s club – a lot different that existing clubs in the area that all had middle-class origins. The blue shirts worn by Union also gave out a working man vibe – they were quite literally a blue-collar club.Throwback to pre-#COVID19 times, when Union Berlin fans used gather at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei to sing Christmas carols… 💔Frohe #Weihnachten from everyone at DW Sports! 🎄🎁 pic.twitter.com/XgcM0hvATc— DW Sports (@dw_sports) December 24, 2020 Decades of life in the old Eastern Germany were to follow for the “Eisern Union” (The Iron Union). Thirty years ago, Germany was united again and Union were reduced to playing in 2. Bundesliga and the old Regionalliga Nord (the third tier of German football). It was eventful if not glamourous. And the key event in recent history came in 2004. Financial problems shackled Union after getting relegated to the third tier in 2004, just three years after sensationally reaching the national cup final.Union needed to come up with $1.65 million in just a month to obtain a playing license for the third league or they wouldn’t even be allowed to compete. It would spell the end for the century-old club. But then, their loyal fans showed their power. They donated blood to help raise awareness for the club’s dire situation. Every donation earned the club around $10. Everyone was donating every penny they could spare, they sold t-shirts and souvenirs to raise the funds and they succeeded. With time running out, the Eisern Union was saved by the supporters.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Today, Union Berlin is led by fans who make all the decisions in running the club. One of the fans who helped to save the club from liquidation in 2004, Dirk Zingler has been the club president since and lived to see the team make it to the top division for the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall. And they’re striving to even better and bigger things, with plans to expand their home stadium and build a new training centre afoot.Tonight, Union will host RB Leipzig. A club that was founded in 2009 and started its life in the fifth level of German football – with only one purpose: to become the strongest club in the country. Red Bull money gave them wings and they soared to the Bundesliga just seven years after the clubs’ formation. Red Bull drew up a plan and executed it flawlessly.Union Berlin fans have organized a protest on their way to the stadium in Leipzig. They call it a funeral march.“RB Leipzig is the death of football!”#RBLFCU #fcunion @dw_sports pic.twitter.com/tfM1I8wUtG— Pascal Jochem (@pascwale) January 18, 2020 In only their first season in the Bundesliga, the Red Bulls finished in second place. It was a clear indication of their ambitions: it was to be better than Bayern or Borussia Dortmund. And of course, they got to play in the UEFA Champions League. Of course, they weren’t going to compete on Europe’s biggest stage just to make up the numbers. They reached the semi-final in only their second attempt.You can’t argue with the results, but there are things that you can argue with. The sheer existence of RB Leipzig has caused controversy in Germany because of the apparent involvement of Red Bull company. RB Leipzig has been criticized for being founded as a marketing tool and for taking the commercialization of football to a new level. The club has been dismissed as a “marketing club”, a “commercial club” or a “plastic club” – but the Bulls don’t really care. They’ve got a plan to attend to.Welcome to Stadion An der Alten Forsterei. This is where worlds collide!BUNDESLIGA – ROUND 14Friday22:30: (3.60) Union Berlin (3.50) RB Leipzig (2.15)Saturday17:30: (3.35) Bielefeld (3.40) Koln (2.30)17:30: (2.45) Augsburg (3.20) Bochum (3.25)17:30: (2.70) Mainz (3.15) Wolfsburg (2.90)17:30: (2.00) Hoffenheim (3.60) Eintr.Frankfurt (4.00)17:30: (1.23) Leverkusen (7.25) Greuther Furth (13.0)20:30: (4.10) Dortmund (3.90) Bayern (1.90)Sunday17:30: (2.30) Stuttgart (3.35) Hertha (3.40)19:30: (1.85) M’ gladbach (3.70) Freiburg (4.60)***odds are subject to change***
