The most intense contest for avoiding relegation in Bundesliga history

The most intense battle for survival in Bundesliga ever recorded

The 34th matchday of the 1998/99 Bundesliga season remains a historical moment in soccer history. The game would be remembered for its last 13 minutes.

"Is there any real danger?" asked Nuremberg coach Friedel Rausch a few days before the 34th matchday of the 1998/99 season. He was confident, even negotiating a new contract, as his team was in 12th place, three points and five goals ahead of 16th place in the table. Another victory would mark a big non-relegation party for the club on May 29, 1999, and they were playing at home against rivals Freiburg.

However, in Frankfurt at Eintracht, the tension was far greater. The 16th-placed team was still at risk of relegation, but they had a chance to stay in the league. Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfL Bochum had already been demoted. Yet, the players expressed their support for their coach, with libero Olaf Janßen stating, "He's not nervous at all. Berger exudes a sense of calm, which has a positive effect on the team."

Despite the outside confidence displayed by players and supporters, Jörg Berger's mind was far from calm. "I feel better if the game is over," he said. "But I pull myself together and don't shout at them in the dressing room. I don't want to spread unnecessary tension." Rostock were optimistic, too, but they were still uneasy. President Eckhardt Rehberg admitted, "I'll have heart palpitations until Saturday."

Then came salvation for all involved. The 34th matchday kicked off and turned chaotic. With just 13 minutes left, events suddenly unfolded in an unpredictable way. Now with only a few moments remaining, a reporter in Nuremberg, Günther Koch, began delivering a heartfelt, rather emotional commentary, trying to make sense of the rapidly changing situation.

Günther Koch: "It's 5:11 pm and the club has almost been relegated after '79, '84, '94, and '99. Everything now depends on Bochum versus Hansa Rostock. Frankfurt is losing, the club is falling apart, they're hanging on the edge..." As Koch intensified, Manfred Breuckmann of Bochum added to the tension by announcing another setback.

Manfred Breuckmann: "And a goal, goal for Rostock. Majak, a substitute, scores a header, and 7,000 Baltic Sea fans who've traveled with us are ecstatic. Hansa Rostock now leads 3:2 at 5:12 pm. Cheering erupts, followed by a hysterically screaming Günther Koch, going from calm to frenzy. His shout of "Goal, goal, goal" resembled Herbert Zimmermann's famous commentary in the 1954 final at Wankdorf Stadium. Manni Breuckmann is barely audible: "... everything goes well for Hansa..." Günther Koch (voice still overlapping): "Tooor in Nuremberg, I can't take this, I can't stand it anymore, I don't want to see it. But they scored a goal, I don't believe it!"

"Wow, what a nail-biting struggle in the world of soccer! And it might not even be over yet." says Manfred Breuckmann. "There's a free kick for Hansa Rostock, the team that's scored a whopping three goals over VfL Bochum's meager two at the moment." Suddenly, the studio presenter, Dietmar Schott, pipes in with a flash of concern: "A short interruption to the stadium update: be aware of children on the highway! There are kids roaming the A 45 Hagen towards Gießen, Hagen and Lüdenscheid Nord junction. Heed their presence, drivers!"

Manfred Breuckmann calmly resumes: "Let's take a look at the three determinant venues. First, we'll catch up with Dirk Schmitt in Frankfurt once more!" Dirk Schmitt tells the audience, full of adrenaline: "In Frankfurt, Eintracht Frankfurt's gearing up for the final push. They're well aware a goal could send 1. FC Nuremberg spiraling back down, there's no debate about it, and now they're bringing in Christoph Westerthaler into the game. He's up against Sforza, followed by Fjörtoft in the penalty area. Bam! Goal for Eintracht Frankfurt, that's 5:1, a remarkable feat! And that you've pretty much sealed the second division fate for 1. FC Nuremberg."

"Hello, this is Nuremberg, we're situated at the brink," chirps in a quiet yet resigned-toned voice, Günther Koch from the Frankenstadion. "Nuremberg 1:2. Just like Bayern lost due to the left goalpost in Barcelona, the team will be relegated if they get relegated...only because of the left goalpost facing the Nordkurve. Schmitt struck the ball against the post, it was unreachable, goalkeeper Golz swooped through the air, the ball bounced back off the post and didn't find its way in, but eventually nestled at Frank Baumann's feet. Frank Baumann was unable to plant the ball in the net from just 6 meters and thus it stands as 1:2. The club that has already been relegated, between 17:08 and 17:10, is now officially relegated!", he laments.

Listeners brace themselves waiting for Günther Koch to continue. The silence is almost eerie for a moment, then he picks up himself. "Friends, it's disbelief what this club is putting their fans through, what they're subjecting their loyalists to, leaving them clueless about Otto Rehhagel's wildly unpredicted result in Frankfurt. The team lost 2-1 and showed no solidity, except in the final minutes. Deepest apologies to the club members, it didn't have to be," Günther Koch shares empathetically.

After his somber tone, Breuckmann interjects with a personal touch: "Manfred, you've worked too hard for this, let me give you a gesture of compassion at this moment."

In Bochum, where Hansa avoided the drop, Eckhardt Rehberg erupts in joyfully, "I sweat more than my players before this! Despite all the struggles, everyone battled exceptionally well." Similarly, his counterpart in Frankfurt, Rolf Heller couldn't believe his luck, "Incredible. I'm ecstatic, but drained. The count of times we've been relegated today?" In Nuremberg, fans weep. Breuckmann describes the emotional state of the club's supporters: "A tragic fate for 1. FC Nuremberg."

Friedel Rausch, who earlier said nothing could go wrong, is stunned beyond belief. Then he was allowed to stay until February 2000 - he would have to vacate the position he held. The emotionally tense relegation battle that culminated in a pitiable ending for the club took a toll. -END-