FC VADUZ (Rheinpark Stadion)

SWISS CHALLENGE LEAGUE, FC VADUZ 1-0 SERVETTE FC, ATTENDANCE: 1,532

Sunday afternoon was the highlight of the weekend for me as I finally made the trip to the Principality of Liechtenstein. After spending the morning watching Schwarz-Weiss Bregenz I made my way to the capital city, Vaduz. 

I took the train from Bregenz to Feldkirch station and from here I caught the number 11 bus, for a very scenic journey across the border, which took me into the heart of Vaduz.

From Vaduz Post bus stop it was 15 minute walk to the Rheinpark Stadion, the home of FC Vaduz. As you can probably guess from name, the ground is on the banks of the river Rheine which is also the border between Lichtenstein and Switzerland.

After the game, I took a stroll along the river and walked across the old wooden bridge "Die Alte Rheinbrücke" that links the two countries.

As well as being the home of FC Vaduz, the Rheinpark Stadion is also the national stadium of Liechtenstein. The ground was opened in 1998 in order to provide the country with a UEFA and FIFA compliant stadium in order to host international games (Liechtenstein has only played in qualifying tournaments since 1994). The ground was originally two-sided but in 2006 stands were built behind each goal taking the capacity up to just over 7,500.

I have to admit there are worse stadiums in the world to watch football. The location is great and the views from the stands are simply stunning, and I don't just mean of the pitch!

Founded in 1932, FC Vaduz are the oldest club in the principality and are the only full time professional club. Liechtenstein has no league of it's own, so all of the seven clubs based in the country all play in the Swiss League system. They do however have a cup competition and the winners, usually FC Vaduz, enter the Europa League each season. Vaduz exited Europe this year at the second qualifying round stage after losing to Lithuanian side FK Žalgiris.

FC Vaduz have spent most of their history outside the top flight apart from one season, in 2008/09 where they finished bottom, and another three season spell from 2014- 2017 where their highest finish was 8th place (in 2016).

Servette FC were the visitors to the Principality this afternoon and they can certainly consider themselves unlucky not to come away from the game with at least a point. The team from Geneva created the more clear cut chances in a decent game, played at a good tempo despite the heat.

They had the first chance after 8 minutes when Mychell Chagas bulleted a header towards the bottom corner but Andreas Hirzel in the Vaduz goal produced a fine one handed save. The game was end to end, with chances for both teams, but neither 'keeper was truly tested and it was goalless at the interval.

The second half continued in similar fashion before the deadlock was broken in the 70th minute. A hopeful cross from substitute Christopher Drazan eluded the Servette defenders and was allowed to bounce in the penalty area where the onrushing Igor Tadic headed home to secure the win for Vaduz.

Servette nearly equalised in the when Kastriot Imeri crashed an effort from 20 yards against the upright in stoppage time but the home side managed to see the game out.

What a vista! There are worse places...

The beautiful city of Vaduz is pretty compact so you can easily walk around the centre in about 15 minutes. The Prince of Liechtenstein resides in Vaduz Castle, high up in the mountains, which can be seen from almost anywhere in the city (pictured below).

There is a brewery in Liechtenstein but it is closed on a Sunday however I managed to find a pizza restaurant where they had two of their beers on draft. That made for a perfect night cap to end a great day.

Monday was to be a football free day but before I left Vaduz I had to pay a visit to another of the city's attractions, namely the Postal Stamp Museum where there was an exhibition of World Cup stamps. I am no philatelist but it would have been remiss of me not to go and have a peep!

If you have not been to the Rheinpark Stadion or Vaduz then I would certainly recommend putting a visit on your bucket list! 

SERVETTE FC (Stade de Genève)

SWISS CHALLENGE LEAGUE, SERVETTE FC 0-0 FC WINTERTHUR, ATTENDANCE: 2,432

For my summer holiday this year I decided on a little trek across two countries that would involve taking in six games over the course of five days. My European tour began in the Swiss city of Geneva (please don't ask for my thought process of why Geneva) ending in Neubrandenburg on Sunday. 

The predominantly French speaking city of Geneva is the home of Servette FC. Founded in 1890, and with 17 titles to their name, they are currently members of the Swiss Challenge League, the second tier of Swiss football, having been relegated (for on the pitch results) for the first time in its history in 2013. 

One of the 'Wall of Solidarity'
Approximately 5,000 bricks were
purchased by supporters when the
club had financial problems

The club were 'relegated' to the third division in 2005 due to bankruptcy. Servette had run up debts of over 10 million Swiss francs and, having not paid the players since the previous November, the club suffered a mass exodus of players. 

The club continued by taking the place of their U21 team, who were playing two divisions below the first team in 1.Liga Classic. The club achieved promotion to the Swiss Challenge League the following year and remained there until the club won promotion back to the top flight in 2011.

The club finished fourth in its first season back in the top flight to earn a spot in the Europa League. However after being eliminated by Rosenburg the season went downhill and the club finished bottom of the Super League.

Servette's home is the Stade de Genève, which was opened in 2003, and which hosted three group matches in the 2008 European Championships. The capacity of the stadium is 30,000 but the average home crowd is about a tenth of that. Getting a ticket for tonight's game with FC Winterthur was therefore rather straightforward as it was just a case of turning up at the ticket office and buying one!

The ground is about 2 miles out of town. I got tram 15 from the main railway station and got off at stop P+R Étoile. From there it was about a 10 to 15 minute walk to the ground.

This season Servette have appointed ex-Stockport, Wimbledon and Wolves winger Kevin Cooper as their new sporting director/coach.

It was a slow burner of a game but once it got going it was a decent watch. The spark that lit proceedings was Servette hitting the upright after 30 minutes. Ironically though it was Winterthur who went on to have the best opportunties before and after the break but they couldn't hit the target.

Servette had a couple of moments, most notably Alexandre Pasche missing from two inches out after a header had come back off the post. No goals but a fair result.

All that was left was to head back into town on the tram and find a bar (which I did - Les Brasseurs) to reflect on another European nil-nil.

The FC Winterthur following