Well, here goes a bumper blog for you all, as I embarked on a European Adventure across two countries and four divisions, in Belgium the Pro League, the top division, and the Challenger Pro League, their equivalent of the Championship, and in Germany the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga, their top and second tier.
I took in five games across three days accompanied by three other like minded football folk (thanks to Martin Berry for organising it all, sorting the accommodation and match tickets and doing all the driving, amazing!!!) starting in Mechelen in Belgium on Friday night before taking in Wolfsburg & Hannover in Germany on the Saturday, before heading back to Belgium on Sunday to Genk & then Liege and then heading home on the Monday.
Two of those games were in the Belgian Pro League, the top tier in the country, and I took in one on the Friday night and then one on Sunday afternoon, let's do those first as they are both from the same league, so would be easier to see how these games affected the table afterwards in the same part of the blog, starting in Mechelen on Friday night:-
Belgian Pro League
Friday February 21st
KV Mechelen Vs K St.Truiden VV (AFAS-Stadion Achter de Kazerne)
This was a game that had plenty riding on it down towards the bottom part of the league, Mechelen were in the middle section of the division but were only a point above the relegation play off section, a section that the visitors occupied themselves and were six points away from getting into the middle section of the table. The hosts had been on a run of multiple losses until they ended that with a draw at home against sixth placed Gent and then last time out won away against third placed Union Saint-Gilloise, two very good results, so they would have been confident of getting a result against third bottom Truiden who had not won in five but had held second placed Club Brugge to a 2-2 draw last time out, so they were no mugs either & no doubt that result would have boosted them slightly.
So, who would come out on top? Well, before all of that we visited the centre of Mechelen for some food and good old Belgian beer of course, which was lovely, and after visiting a brewery for another beer before heading to the stadium (yes I was still standing up by this point!!!) and take our seats for this contest, the AFAS-Stadion is quite a neat stadium which holds around 20,000 I think, and there was certainly a good atmosphere inside it too, there were just under 14,000 present for this game.
The hosts were the ones to grab the lead in the 26th minute when a cross from the right saw striker Raman & defender Janssens go for the ball, and it saw the defender get the final touch to send the ball past his own keeper Kokubo and into the far corner, advantage Mechelen and the home fans were in fine voice now.
They could not build on this though and a very scrappy second half followed, chances were few and far between and the game remained in the balance, could the hosts hold on or could the visitors find a leveller and grab an important point from the contest, well in the first minute of stoppage time the visitors found a leveller to stun the hosts, a ball in seeing Ferrari sweep a lovely finish high into the net beyond De Wolf, and in fact St Truiden nearly won it deeper into added on time after the keeper had made an awful error, but the visitors could only fire wide of the gaping goal and the hosts survived.
Boos at the end from some of the home crowd suggested this was two points dropped, but if truth be told neither side really deserved to win this one, you can see why they are both down towards the bottom of the division, both looked devoid of ideas and confidence, but both did add one more point to the tally at least, not the best of games but a nice ground and a decent atmosphere nonetheless, so in the end all good, oh and a fine place Mechelen is too, defo worth a visit.
Full time KV Mechelen 1 K St Truiden VV 1
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KRC Genk Vs KAA Gent (Cegeka Arena)
This was a match between two sides who occupied the top six of the division, hosts Genk were the league leaders and held an eight point lead at the top before the weekend began, they had won every game this year so far, that's six in a row, and were looking to make that seven straight wins in the division against a Gent side who had not lost since Boxing Day, that's six games without defeat which saw them in sixth with a five point buffer to seventh spot, which is outside the top six championship play off zone. Four of those were draws but they would be a tough task for the league leaders for sure, so it was an intriguing match up to say the least.
It's fair to say though that the lunch we had at a very nice restaurant in Genk prior to the game, and the lovely strong Belgian beer we consumed with it was far more enjoyable than the actual contest, which was rather poor to say the lest between two sides in the top six, and one that led the division by eight points and had the chance to extend that lead to eleven had they won their seventh straight contest as nearest challengers, Club Brugge, lost at home prior to this game, but they could not capitalise on this although did extend their lead at the top with a point.
Genk had a couple of decent chances in the first half, one one those seeing a ball wacked across goal and beyond anyone coming in, and in the second half Gent had a great chance but saw a ball across goal somehow not converted before they struck wide from about twelve yards out, Genk tried in vain to find a late winner but despite several shots at goal could not hit the target, and the game finished goalless., meaning Genk had failed to win for the first time in 2025, typical!!!
There was a good atmosphere inside another lovely area, so that was good, but sadly the game did not really live up to it's billing, can't win all can you!!!
Full time KRC Genk 0 KAA Gent 0
So, how does this affect the sides I saw in Belgium in the division, let's have a look at the table after the weekend games:-
Genk extend their lead at the top despite failing to win against a Gent side who remain in sixth spot but saw the gap to seventh reduce to three points with three games to go before the league splits, whereas KV Mechelen did increase their gap to the relegation section of the division to two points despite St Truiden's late leveller, they remain deep in the bottom section and are six points away from getting out of that and into the mid section with only three games left, that late miss on Friday night to win it might come back to harm them for sure.
Before I go on to talk about the German games, I did do one Belgian second tier match as sides battle to get into the top division, it was a mid table clash which I attended Sunday evening, it was my final game of the tour, and out of the five contests the best one, so let's cover that one off to complete the Belgian section of my blog:-
Belgian Challenger Pro League
Sunday February 23rd
RFC de Liege Vs K Lierse SK (Stade de Rocourt)
This pitted eighth against seventh in the second tier of Belgium, the hosts were eight points behind their opponents though and nine off the top six and the play off places as the weekend began, so a win was definitely more important for the hosts to get rather than the visitors who themselves could end the weekend inside the top six with victory in this one, Liege came into this one though off the back of two successive losses whereas the visitors Lierse hadn't lost for a month, that's five games, so the form book suggested the visitors would grab the win, would it go to form though?
After a mad dash from Genk to Liege for this one, we just about made kick off thankfully, and early on it seemed as if the game was going as the form book suggested, as after just four minutes Perdichizzi found Kireev who found the net from outside the box, I say this but I actually missed the goal as I was looking elsewhere, so thankfully Martin told me what had happened, school boy error there, but the visitors had the early advantage.
Now in the first ten minutes there was a space behind the goal with a message 'Our roots are here, time to talk' which you can see in some of my photos from this game, now it appears that the owners want to move away from Rocourt but the fans obviously do not want this so this was a protest where the home fans remained fairly silent and some even didn't watch the first ten minutes, as after that time had passed they filed into the stand behind that goal and filled in that gap and resorted to creating a good atmosphere, it obviously means a great deal to the supporters and this is there home and they will not be moved.
Lierse though, backed by their small band of fans in one corner of the stadium were certainly enjoying the contest in the early exchanges, but, Liege slowly got a foothold in proceedings and managed to level with a decent strike of their own, and one that I did see this time!!! Mouchamps laying a ball to Merlen who fired a lovely effort into the bottom corner from outside the box, and the sides would go in all square at the break.
After the break it was pretty much all Liege, some turnaround after the start Lierse had made in the first half, and just three minutes into the second half Liege got themselves in front when Lambot played a ball across goal and saw Lefebvre apply the finishing touch in front of the home fans behind that goal, and for a time they looked the more likely to go on and increase their lead.
Lierse though had two efforts that so nearly brought them level, one crashing against the bar and the other going inches wide, and towards the end of the game Liege were hanging on a bit, and their keeper had to make a couple of decent stops to prevent the visitors from grabbing a point, Liege though did hold on and claim a big win and end the visitors unbeaten run in the process.
A great game though with both sides looking to attack, funny how the lower league match ended up being the best one, pure football with no VAR as well, something I certainly enjoy!!!
Full time RFC de Liege 2 K Lierse SK 1
Shall we quickly see how both sides now fare in the division after that result:-
Defeat for Lierse means they fail to break into the top six, however I did discover that Club NXT, basically Club Brugge II, cannot be promoted as they cannot play in same division as their first team, so wouldn't take part in the play offs, so Lierse are technically in anyway but Liege closed the gap to five points and have increased their chances of making the post season, it was a very big win for them on Sunday night for sure.
Right, that's the Belgian part of my trip covered, let's see what happened in the two German games I attended on the Saturday, starting with my afternoon trip to Wolfsburg:-
Saturday February 22nd
German Bundesliga
VfL Wolfsburg Vs VfL Bochum (Volkswagen Arena)
Hosts Wolfsburg were trying to get into the European places in Germany's top division, the top six, and they began the weekend in ninth spot and just two points off sixth place and four points off fourth and the champions league spots, so victory against a relegation threatened Bochum side was paramount, the hosts had been on a run of four games without victory until they won last time out at Stuttgart, another side chasing European football too, their opponents Bochum currently occupy the relegation places in second bottom and are only behind third bottom and that relegation play off spot on goal difference. There is a seven point gap to safety, but they did net a huge win last time out at home to Borussia Dortmund, there first win in four games, to enhance their chances of survival and give them a big boost ahead of this one.
A wonderful atmosphere greeted both sides at kick off, the visiting fans from Bochum were making plenty of noise in one corner of the ground, and at the other end the home fans were creating a wonderful atmosphere as well as plenty of murals which you can see from my pics below, and this went on for around the opening ten minutes of the game, I had kind of forgotten there was a game of football going on, I was to busy watching them create these wonderful pieces of art, but there was a game of football going of course.
The hosts started the better and Bochum were holding on for the early exchanges of the contest, but once they settled they started to grow into the game, and early in the second half grabbed the lead when a corner from Bero found Masovic who rose highest to head home unchallenged and give the relegation threatened visitors the lead and a chance to hold onto what would have been back to back wins.
How would Wolfsburg react, well they thought they had levelled when Amoura belted a wonderful effort into the top corner, but VAR intervened and asked the referee to go over and look at the screen for a foul in the build up, he agreed and the goal was chalked off, much to the frustrations of the hosts, but they were not to be denied a point though as they managed to level in the 81st minute, and it was a very scrappy goal too, but they all count.
It came when a scramble inside the visitors box saw Svanberg head a ball at goal, and although it was initially blocked, the ball was forced inches over the line and the goal was awarded, and it meant both sides managed to pick up a point, which may well be useful come the end of the season.
Another good experience though, and my first experience of German Football and the atmosphere it creates, it was certainly very impressive, as was the arena, very smart indeed.
Full time VfL Wolfsburg 1 VfL Bochum 1
German 2.Bundesliga
Hannover 96 Vs SC Paderborn 07 (Heinz von Heiden-Arena)
Saturday evening saw me complete the German part of my trip in Hannover as the hosts entertained Paderborn, Hannover are looking to return to the top division and began the weekend in eighth and five points off automatic promotion back to the top league, Paderborn, who themselves were recently in the top division, are in sixth spot and only two points off the top two when the weekend began, so this was certainly a big game between to promotion hopefuls. Hannover were unbeaten in six although five of them had been draws, Paderborn themselves had won two games in a row coming into this one without conceding, so this would be a hard one to call.
If the atmosphere at my first German football experience was decent, the one experienced here in Hannover was out of this world, one of the best I've ever witnessed, especially as kick off approached, as you can see from the photos below, there were fireworks, flares, the lot, it was insane and amazing to witness first hand, it's a wonderful stadium too and was one used for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, so definitely one to tick off if you get the chance.
Anyway, to the action on the pitch and Hannover almost brought the home fans to fever pitch levels, if they weren't already at that level anyway when after just four minutes they found the net to grab an early advantage, Halstenberg flicking on a cross to Rochelt who then in turn sent the ball back across the box to Halstenberg who slotted beyond the keeper and give the hosts a great start to the contest.
They so nearly added another when striking the bar with a free kick, but once Paderborn had settled they begin to threaten the hosts goal, but could not find that killer touch, the second period saw most of the threat come from the visitors, they struck the bar and post as they looked to get on level terms and give their superb support in the corner near me something to cheer, and with 89 minutes on the clock they found a deserved leveller when Grimaldi pounced to header home a deflected cross from Ansah.
Seven minutes of stoppage time followed, Dehm was shown a second yellow and dismissed towards the end of it, and Paderborn nearly won it from a very late corner, but they had to settle for a point in the end, a point Hannover would have been grateful for when the whistle blew, their good early start didn't come to much in the end, and another 1-1 draw for me on this trip!!!
What an experience though, amazing levels of support and a totally bonkers atmosphere, something I am so glad to have experienced finally, amazing stadium, amazing support, shame the football wasn't quite as good though!!!
Full time Hannover 96 1 SC Paderborn 07 1
Let's see how that affects both the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga for the teams I saw on Saturday:-
Bundesliga
Even though Wolfsburg failed to win, they did climb a place to eighth although the gap to the top four is now five, but they are still right in the mix for a European place, the point for Bochum keeps them level with third bottom and took them a point closer to safety too, so they still have a good chance of getting out of danger, but it's going to take a lot of work to do of course.
2.Bundesliga
Paderborn's late point at Hannover saw them three points off automatic and just one off the play off place for promotion, whereas for Hannover they are three points further back and could of done with hanging on to win Saturday night's game, it would certainly have made a difference but both sides are still in with a chance of course along with many others in a tight division, should be a fun last few months of the season.
It just leaves me to say what a wonderful weekend I had, Mechelen was a wonderful city and a good place to start, the beers were amazing even if the football across the weekend wasn't so much, but to visit five different Arena's and experience the atmosphere as well was amazing, I will never forget the atmosphere before the start of the Hannover game, that was insane and a wonderful thing to be at.
Anyway I hope you enjoyed reading and sharing my experiences through the blog, thanks so much for taking the time to read it, it makes it all worth while doing it!!!
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