SK RAPID WIEN (Allianz Stadion)

BUNDESLIGA, SK RAPID VIENNA 2-2 FK AUSTRIA VIENNA, ATTENDANCE: 26,000

The main event of the weekend was the a visit to the Allianz Stadion for the 233rd Vienna derby as SK Rapid Vienna clashed with fierce rivals Austria Vienna. 

Rapid Vienna are a famous name in European football, having won the Austrian Bundesliga 32 times in their history but for this particular supporter they will be synonymous with the 1985 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, when a team containing the legendary Hans Krankl was defeated 3-1 by Everton in Rotterdam.

Despite originating the from same area the supporters of each club were traditionally divided by class with Rapid the team of the working class and Austria the more middle class. Rapid hold the upper hand in terms of wins with 132 to 117 and 72 draws (prior to today's game).

Rapid are based in the West of Vienna in Hütteldorf at the brand new Allianz Stadion, which was opened in 2016 (with a friendly against Chelsea) and is built on the site of the old Gerhard Hanappi Stadion. The ground is easy to reach from the city centre as it is the end of the line on U4. The new ground has a capacity of 28,000 and is a superb modern stadium.  I was sat in the stand next to the Rapid Ultras and the atmosphere was incredible. The supporters made some fantastic noise and the were some excellent pyrotechnics.

Where do I begin to describe this game? It had everything! The first half was stop-start as the tackles flew in, the referee producing a slew of yellow cards in an attempt to keep a lid on things. Eventually though a game of football did break out and it was Rapid who drew first blood when a Thomas Schrammel cross was headed home by an unmarked Louis Schaub after 39 minutes.

 

Rapid came out the traps fastest in the second period and it wasn't long before they did add a second goal. After a defensive mix up, Austria 'keeper Osman Hadzikic's interception/clearance fell at the feet of Schaub (55) and he rolled the ball into an empty net from outside the area.

 

Rapid were in complete control and really should have added a 3rd, 4th or 5th goal but they were soon to rue those wasted chances. It was a big ask to continue at that pace and as the homesters began to fade Austria found a way back into the game when Dominik Prokop (72) fired home.

The pendulum had now swung and it was Austria now asking the questions of the Rapid back line and in the 85th minute Prokop was tripped in the box by Schrammel, who as last man was shown a straight red card, and Austria captain Raphael Holhauser stepped to blast the penalty home.

Austria continued to press and when they got a corner after 87 minutes and a hail of missiles rained down from the stand, including lighters, plastic pint cups and what looked like a metal bar. The referee took the players off pitch for a "cooling down" period before returning about 5 minutes later to complete the game.

An incredible afternoon in many ways and utterly compelling. I doubt very much of I will have a better matchday experience this season.

 

ADMIRA WACKER MÖDLING (Bundesstadion Südstadt)

ÖSTERREICHISCHE FUßBALL BUNDESLIGA,
ADMIRA WACKER MÖDLING 1-1 SC RHEINDORF ALTACH, ATTENDANCE: 2,007

This weekend I found myself in the Austrian capital, so it would have been churlish not to seek out at least one game to go and watch. I was drawn to the current league leaders, SC Altach, and their trip to Mödling to face Admira Wacker (another great football name).







After landing at the airport, I headed to my hotel and dumped my bag before catching the metro train south of the city to the Bundesstadion Südstadt (currently known as the BSFZ Arena under a sponsorship arrangement).

The ground is about a 20 minute walk from Mödling Banhof and, to be frank, there isn't a lot to see or do around the stadium. Tickets were obtained online a few days before the match and they were print at home, so that saved a euro on the matchday entry.

Most of the crowd were in the large main stand, with of pocket of Ultras from each club on the terraces either side of this stand. The bulk of the terraces were covered up so the supporters were basically standing in the gangways that used to lead onto the terraces. The side opposite the main stand was closed to supporters.

Admira Wacker was founded in 1971 when Admira Vienna (originally founded in 1905) and Wacker Vienna (originally founded in 1908) merged after financial difficulties for both clubs. The current club was founded in 1997 after Admira Wacker merged with VfB Mödling (originally founded in 1911) again after a financial crisis.

The club have won the Austrian Bundesliga on 9 occasions, Admira Vienna 8 times and Wacker Vienna once. The majority of these successes were pre-World War Two and the clubs last title was in 1966. The club reached the Europa League in 2013 and 2017 but failed to make it past the qualifying rounds.

The match was an insipid affair and did nothing to warm one with excitement on a bitterly cold afternoon. Altach were top of the table going into the match, with Admira down in 7th, and it was league leaders who had most of the possession but created little in terms of goal threat.

The first goal arrived though on 41 minutes when substitute Nikola Zivotic was felled in the box and Moumi Ngamaleu dispatched the resulting spot kick, celebrating with a Peter Beagrie-esque back flip.

Surprisingly though the game was all square two minute later when Altach goalkeeper Andreas Lukse could only parry an attempt at goal into the path of Christoph Monschein, whose overhead kick found the back of the net.

In the 80th minute, just moments after coming on as a subsitute, Dominik Starkl missed a glorious chance to steal the points for Admira, when one-on-one at goal, but Lukse saved the day. A draw was a fair result and neither side did enough to justify a win.

SC PADERBORN 07 (Benteler Arena)

BUNDESLIGA, SC PADERBORN 0-0 TSG HOFFENHEIM, ATTENDANCE: 14,401

I completed my visits to all 18 clubs/grounds of the Bundesliga with a trip to the Benteler Arena, the home of SC Paderborn 07.

I couldn't actually get a ticket in the home end so I joined the visiting fans who had made the trip north from Sinsheim.


I had been pre-warned by many a football fan in both the UK and Germany that Paderborn's ground is possibly the most disappointing ground to grace the top of German football.

I can't really argue against that but it wasn't a bad as the picture that had been painted. The ground put me in mind of a Dutch ground.

Regardless, on such an auspicious occasion I was expecting the full red carpet treatment and a personal greeting from President Wilfried but, alas, none was forthcoming. Therefore with no champagne reception, I had to content myself with one or two or three 'Paderborner Gold' and a Currywurst for soakage.

It was a good job I did have a few beers as alcohol was much needed to numb the senses as I watched a dreadful goalless draw. Struggling Paderborn were taking on Hoffenheim but neither side looked like breaking the deadlock.

Hoffenheim's Ermin Bicakcic was shown a red card in the 65th minute for a second yellow card offence, and that was the only real incident of note. Most of the chances that came and went were half chances at best. This was not a great advert for Bundesliga football.

The current club was formed in 1985 when FC Paderborn and TuS Schloß Neuhaus merged to form TuS Paderborn-Neuhaus, before shortening their name to SC Paderborn 07. The Neuhaus club was founded in 1907, hence the 07 in the name.

Paderborn have spent the last decade or so in the Bundesliga 2 after a previously inauspicious history. Paderborn reached the top flight for the first time this season and actually started off reasonably well.

Paderborn were mid-table at the winter break but since the restart they have slumped down the table and are now in one of the relegation places.

Given the circumstances a point was probably a decent result for the home side after four straight defeats, though as we approach the business end of the season it is wins that Paderborn need if they are not to make a swift return to Bundesliga 2.

VfL WOLFSBURG (Volkswagen Arena)

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE GROUP H, VfL WOLFSBURG 0-2 EVERTON,
ATTENDANCE: 23,375

Another November weekend, another European adventure! This time it involved my beloved Blues as I joined the 5,000 or so Everton fans making the trip to Germany.

I had been advised by many a groundhopper that there is not much going on in Wolfsburg as nothing really exists beyond the Volkswagen car factory (incidentally the biggest of it's kind in the world). The city was only founded in 1938 specifically to house workers of the newly built factories. They would build the iconic Beetle car.

I therefore based myself in nearby Hannover. The 'Weihnachtsmarkt' had started the previous Monday so there was a stall outside the main train station doing a roaring trade in Gluhwein, so that set the ball rolling regards pre-match beverages!

I met up with my friends from Hamburg and we took the train to Wolfsburg. We got chatting, and shared a bottle of beer, with a 'Wolfie' fan on the way. My mate reckoned he was part of their Ultras but I found this hard to believe as he was wearing a 'half 'n' half' scarf' in my eyes that only means one thing....

After a few more beers in a Wolfsburg supporters bar, that was rammed with fellow Evertonians, we made the short 15 minute walk to the ground. The Volkswagen Arena was opened in 2002 and has a capacity of 30,000 but that was slightly reduced to 26,000 tonight as the terracing is converted to seating for European games.

I was sat in amongst the home fans, but like Nuremburg in 2007, they were very friendly and there was absolutely no hint of any trouble. The police and stewards kept a watchful eye, but at a distance. Maybe they could have a word with their French counterparts?

The Everton fans inside the stadium made a great noise

Wolfsburg, Bundesliga champions as recently as 2009, were in good form prior to this game and were second in the table to Bayern Munchen. This would be a tough test for Everton.

It was a consummate away from the Toffees as Wolfsburg dominated possession and had more of the chances, albeit mostly long range efforts, but Everton clinically finished them off with two counter attacking goals.

Admittedly Everton rode their luck at times, especially when a linesman incorrectly ruled out an Ivan Perisic header, but the back four held firm.

Romelu Lukaku gave Everton the lead after 43 minutes when he beat the defender and burst through beat Diego Benaglio in the Wolfsburg goal.

At half time the result of the Lille v Krasnador game came through meaning both Everton and Wolfsburg were through regardless, but it would be nice to top the group and the Blues ensured that happened after 73 minutes when Lukaku played through Kevin Mirallas who sealed the victory.

Eto'o! Eto'o!

Post match we returned to the supporters bar where we were pre-match only this time the shots were flowing along with the beer. The landlady was also happy to join us for a few as well!

We caught the last train back to Hannover, where I met a few old mates from Work/School - small world isn't it? - before collapsing into bed in the wee small hours. Another great Everton European away trip.