South Tyrol’s Bundesliga expert: “Just comment again”

Pietro Nicolodi, you have been commentating on Bundesliga games at Sky Italia for 15 years now. How did you get there? “I worked for the now-defunct daily newspaper Mattino di Bolzano started, later I commented on ice hockey for local TV stations. About the Journal of Sport I finally arrived in 2001 RAI came. Four years later I switched to pay TV.”

Do you only comment on football games? “No, I always report on tennis, fencing, Nordic skiing and even ice hockey. Apart from that, I am interested in almost all disciplines, especially US sports. I used to play basketball when I was younger.”

Let's dedicate ourselves to your main activity, the Bundesliga. Is there a player there that you are particularly focusing on? “Yes, that’s Marco Reus. It's a feast for the eyes to watch him. I have had him on my radar since he started at Borussia Mönchengladbach and have been able to follow his career up close.”

“BVB against Schalke, for me that is THE game par excellence.” Are there any Bundesliga games that you particularly enjoy commenting on? “I love Werder Bremen’s home games; there is a familiar yet fiery atmosphere in the Weser Stadium. On the other hand, I don't like the stadium in Nuremberg with its running tracks around the field at all. However, if I had to highlight one game, it would be the Revierderby. BVB against Schalke, for me that is THE game par excellence.”

Speaking of the Revierderby: Next Saturday it's that time again, when Dortmund welcomes their rivals from Gelsenkirchen. “Exactly, I’m really looking forward to that. If everything goes smoothly and Corona doesn't throw a spanner in the works again, I can comment on the derby live. The 14-day quarantine and the resulting game cancellations by Dynamo Dresden show that there is still a small question mark behind every game. In any case, it would be a very special moment, even if it is a ghost game.”

“Ghost games are a tragedy” How strange does a ghost game actually feel for a TV commentator? “Immediately before the Corona stop, I reported on the derby between Gladbach and Cologne and I have to say that it was a tragedy. You can hear every quiet sound in the stadium. But to be honest: at the moment I just want to comment again and watch good football.”

So are you a supporter of an early new start in the Bundesliga? “So I don’t understand enough about medical and health aspects to be able to judge. This is definitely a very fine balancing act. But I trust the authorities and hope that everything goes well.”

According to Pietro Nicolodi, BVB could benefit from the Corona stop in their duel with Bayern. © SID

Serie A wants to take the Bundesliga as an example and follow suit after a possibly successful start. Is this a sensible process? “There is a big difference between Germany and Italy: the Bundesliga said from the start that they wanted to continue playing as quickly as possible. There was no longer any major decision to be made, but rather to wait for the right time. A lot is still unclear in Serie A. In any case, copying the Bundesliga minutes could be very helpful. Especially since there would still be some time between now and a Series A restart to make further adjustments.”

“The five-change rule means Dortmund has an ace up its sleeve.” You know both leagues inside out. Where do you see fundamental differences between the Bundesliga and Serie A?

“Since more goals are scored again in Serie A, there aren’t that big of a difference anymore. Rather, these take place in the stands. In Italy, football serves as a catalyst for everything that builds up in people, from pure ecstasy to hateful disappointment. In the Bundesliga, on the other hand, the majority of fans come primarily to watch a football game for fun and in a festive atmosphere. I have two suitable examples.”

Bitte ...

“Let’s take HSV, which has been playing the worst football that this traditional club has ever offered in its recent past. And yet 50.000 people make the pilgrimage to the Volkspark almost every match day to watch the second division games. Or Schalke 04: How long has this club not enjoyed great success? Nevertheless, the fans fill the arena to the last seat - regardless of whether it is against Bayern or Paderborn. When I see on TV how Napoli play in a half-empty concrete bowl in times without a win, I see the main problem. This isn't about expensive stars, nice moves or a hot atmosphere. It is simply these images from full, modern arenas that influence the image of an entire league.”

A final question: Who will win the championship trophy in the Bundesliga?

“Until the interruption, I was confident that Bayern Munich would be champions. The class that Thiago, Alaba, Davies, Lewandowski and Co. conjure up on the pitch is enormous. However, due to the long break, the cards are being reshuffled and the introduced 5-change rule offers Dortmund an ace up their sleeve. No team has as wide a bench as BVB. I think it will be an exciting showdown.”

Questions: Alexander Foppa

	SP	TV	P
1. Bayer Leverkusen	31	77:22	81
2. Bayern Munich	31	89:38	69
3. VfB Stuttgart	31	70:38	64
4. RB Leipzig	31	73:35	62
5. Bor. Dortmund	31	59:39	57
6. Eintracht Frankfurt	31	47:42	45
View all

	SP	TV	P
1. FC St Pauli	31	57:33	63
2. Holstein Kiel	31	61:37	61
3. Fortuna Dusseldorf	31	65:36	56
4. Hamburger SV	31	59:42	52
5. Karlsruhe SC	31	62:45	49
6. Hannover 96	31	53:39	46
View all

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South Tyrol’s Bundesliga expert: “Just comment again”

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