Norwich City’s pre-season tour rounds off this evening with a final friendly against Bundesliga II side Arminia Bielefeld this evening – but who are the Canaries’ opponents?
Well, Deutscher Sport-Club Arminia Bielefeld are another Bundesliga II side – that won’t surprise anyone.
They are a little more established in the German second tier than their previous opponents MSV Duisburg, who City beat 2-0 on Wednesday – they are currently preparing for their second tier return following promotion.
For Die Arminen – or more uncomfortable for Norwich fans, Die Blauen – they are preparing for their second season in the division, although they also endured a recent spell in the third tier.
Bielefeld have taken the Bundesliga II title on three occasions, the most recent coming in 1999 – while the club’s size is similar to that of the one they will be hosting tonight, at their 26,5000 capacity home.
Arminia’s season actually kicks off slightly sooner than Duisburg, with a Saturday, July 29 visit from SSV Jahn Regensburg on the opening weekend of the campaign.
• Follow Norwich City’s friendly with Arminia Bielefeld live here
While Arminia have not picked up any major German honours, they did make the news for all the wrong reasons back in 1971 – with two players directly implicated in the Bundesliga match-fixing scandal. Relegation to the regional divisions followed, but Bielefeld’s recovery has long since been completed.
The big ahead of kick-off is the confirmed appointment of Julian Börner as Arminia’s captain for the new season, while former Luxembourg midfielder Jeff Saibene is the man in charge having taken over as manager in only March.
Of course, there is a significant link to Farke too – Bielefeld is as close to the City head coach’s football home as he is likely to get while in post at Norwich. Likewise, you imagine that brings its own incentive to excel.
City kick-off against Arminia Bielefeld at Schuco Arena at 6pm, and you can follow the game live here.
• For the latest Norwich City news and opinion follow Michael Bailey on Twitter @michaeljbailey, Facebook @mbjourno and Instagram @mrmichaeljbailey
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