Chemie Leipzig before the game against Jena: Does the coach have to go?

Chemie Leipzig before the game against Jena: Does the coach have to go?

A charged duel is on the program at the Alfred-Kunze-Sportpark on September 2, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.: BSG Chemie Leipzig meets FC Carl Zeiss Jena. Chemie Leipzig has yet to get going in the Regionalliga Nordost and faces the frightening possibility of losing their sixth game in a row. “There is something going on,” says coach Adrian Alipour and knows that only a win can stop the threatening negative series. The bitter thing is that there has only been one win since he took over in April and the team is currently bottom of the table with no points in the account. Luca Böggemann, who was loaned out to Sportfreunde Lotte, will be sorely missed.

The opponent from Jena, on the other hand, has presented itself well in the last few games. With ten points from five games and a clear 4-0 win against Hertha Zehlendorf most recently, they seem to be in better form. In the previous season, Jena clearly won the last two matches against Leipzig – 3:0 and 5:0. The memories of this will put additional pressure on the chemistry players before the game.

Fan violence in focus

However, the encounter has a dark aftertaste, as the last encounters between the two clubs were accompanied by violent riots between the fan groups. After a previous game, 79 people were injured, including 10 police officers and 5 stewards, which is a sobering result for everyone involved. Police officers used irritant gas, among other things, to control the clashes, while pyrotechnics were set off by both fan camps. This led to significant property damage and 40 reported crimes. Chemie Leipzig has already announced measures to prevent further violence, including imposing stadium bans on identified perpetrators of pyrotechnic throws.

How to deal with such acts of violence and fan riots remains a hot topic in football, especially in view of the professional relationships between fans and police, which have been strained since the pandemic. The head of the state information center for sports operations in Baden-Württemberg, Uwe Stahlmann, emphasizes that although the excesses of violence have not gotten out of hand, the reactions and handling of the police are not always ideal.

Personnel situation and outlook

For the game against Jena, Chemie Leipzig will still have to do without Valon Aliji, who remains doubtful due to a burn. A bright spot could be Stanley Ratifo, who has asked for a postponement from the national team and could be in the squad against Jena. While Chemie hopes for much-needed points, Jena will look to confirm the positive performances of the last few games and continue to fuel the rivalry.

While the anticipation for the game increases, the question remains whether Chemie Leipzig will be able to end their series of defeats and prevail against their rivals from Jena. One thing is certain: eyes will be wide open and it will not only be exciting on the pitch, but also around the stadium. Let's stay excited and hope for a happier ending!