Timo Baumgartl is back! The Union defender, who had been absent for months due to testicular cancer, made his competitive comeback against VfL Wolfsburg. The 26-year-old started the 2-0 win and put in a remarkable performance given the circumstances until he was substituted in the 61st minute.

Timo Baumgartl should remember this day forever. The central defender has not only recovered well from his cancer, but is also back in the thick of things as a professional soccer player. If your own club then also takes over the top of the table with a 2-0 win, there is little that can top it.

The central defender was accordingly happy after his comeback. "It's just nice to be back here. It was an all-round successful day," he explained. The thought of such a mega comeback was a light at the end of the tunnel and an important motivator for the player, even in the most difficult times. "During the chemotherapy, during the hardest moments of my life, I imagined that I would be back for this moment," recalled the Union player. Baumgartl played his last competitive game on April 14, but despite the dramatic events and the long downtime, he only had slight problems at the beginning. As the season progressed, the central defender found more security and defended strongly in conjunction with his neighbours. "He played a good game, even if there were a few wobbles," said coach Urs Fischer, who was "incredibly happy for him" because he "worked so hard for his comeback". All football fans should share this joy.

This article was originally published on 90min.com/de as First mission after cancer: Timo Baumgartl with a remarkable comeback.