VfL Osnabruck fans delivered one of the most inventive tifo displays German football has seen, unveiling a rollercoaster-themed banner and structure ahead of their DFB-Pokal first-round meeting with reigning champions Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Germany's football culture is renowned for elaborate stadium displays, from Borussia Dortmund's Yellow Wall choreography to the vast murals regularly seen at Bayern's own Allianz Arena. Yet the second-tier hosts arguably raised the bar with their creation at the Bremer Brucke, which combined a giant banner reading "VfL Osnabruck – a rollercoaster ride!" with a functioning miniature rollercoaster track built into the stands.
The display was months in the making. According to the club, supporters spent "several months" designing and constructing the piece, which used wooden slats, plastic piping and fabric to form the track, allowing it to be rolled out in sections before kick-off. A small cart, built mainly from wood and styrofoam and carrying dummy passengers, was pulled along the track using a push-and-pull mechanism, giving the impression of a moving ride in front of the East Stand.
Osnabruck explained that the concept was meant to reflect the unpredictable and often dramatic history of the club, a narrative fans themselves describe as a "rollercoaster ride full of ups and downs." The display incorporated references to notable moments from the club's past, including a memorable win over Bayern Munich back in 1978, alongside acknowledgements of various controversies and painful defeats endured over the years.
The creativity did not stop with the track and cart. As part of the presentation, the miniature carriage passed a mock "photo station," complete with a flash effect, after which an image of the cart appeared instantly on a screen elsewhere in the stadium — mimicking the souvenir photo booths found at real amusement park rides. To complete the theme, supporters had even recorded a bespoke anthem, dubbed the "Funpark Bremer Brucke" song, which was played before the match to accompany the show.
The elaborate tifo was removed from the pitch just before kick-off, but the festive mood inside the ground carried over into the opening exchanges of the match itself. Osnabruck, who have only recently secured promotion to Bundesliga 2 and have never featured in Germany's top flight, stunned their illustrious visitors by taking the lead inside the first five minutes.
That early shock proved to be as far as the fairytale went on the pitch, however. Bayern Munich, holders of both the German Cup and the Bundesliga title, gradually asserted their quality and pulled away from the lower-division side. England captain Harry Kane scored twice for the visitors, while further goals from Tom Bischof and Michael Olise sealed a 4-1 victory that sent Bayern through to the second round of the competition.
Despite the eventual scoreline, the night will likely be remembered as much for what happened in the stands as for the result on the pitch. Osnabruck's rollercoaster tifo has already drawn widespread attention as a standout example of fan creativity, adding another chapter to Germany's long tradition of spectacular matchday choreography.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.