Opening season matchup: Hertha faces Schalke in a classic duel.
Cracking the 2. Bundesliga with a Bold Move
Hertha BSC makes waves as they take on Schalke 04 in the opening match of the 2023 season on August 1st.
Mark your calendars! The highly-anticipated kickoff jam-packed with drama will air live on Sky and Sat.1 at 8:30 PM. The remaining schedule for the league will be revealed at 2 PM by the DFL later today.
Hertha's new acquisition, Paul Seguin (30), headed by coach Stefan Leitl, steps into the Gelsenkirchen inferno for his debut. It's a hot start coming straight from his transfer from Schalke for €400,000, with a contract lasting until 2027.
Backstory: Seguin's tenure in Gelsenkirchen was fraught with fan disfavor, reaching a peak recently. Particularly after a contentious presentation in Berlin, where Hertha captain Toni Leistner and Seguin stirred up controversy with a provocative video clip featuring the Schalke anthem.
In the video, a music box playing the Schalke anthem is shown, with Leistner casually tossing it aside, replacing it with the Hertha anthem. The exchange between Leistner and Seguin: "You can learn that," Leistner remarks, to which Seguin responds with a matter-of-fact, "I can handle it, don't worry."
Schalke supporters will undoubtedly give Seguin a frosty welcome, as they've taken offense to the video and transferred their discontent to him personally.
As a former Schalke player, Seguin's decision to join a rival club in the 2. Bundesliga has fueled the tension between him and Schalke fans. His transfer and the incident from the Hertha presentation have left a bitter taste, with some fans even going so far as to express relief that he left Schalke.[4]
Heading into his first competitive match against Schalke, Seguin braces for a rough reception from fans, anticipating a deafening chorus of boos during the game.[2] The animosity between him and Schalke supporters remains at an all-time high, further amplified by the circumstances of his transfer.
So, be prepared for a charged atmosphere at the opening match of the 2. Bundesliga season as Hertha BSC squares off against Seguin's former team, Schalke 04. The tension will surely make for an exciting event to kick off the new league year!
Seguin, as he prepares for his debut with Hertha BSC against his former team Schalke 04 in the 2023 2. Bundesliga season opener, can expect a frosty reception from Schalke supporters, given his transfer to a rival club and the controversial video incident from his presentation with Hertha. The animosity and tension between Seguin and Schalke fans are expected to add fuel to the drama of this European football league match.
