My first experience of the German Bundesliga was a very enjoyable one. I was in Munich for the weekend and managed to get a ticket for the match at the Allianz Arena. It made a nice change to go to a game and not worry about the score.
The 69,000 capacity (less for Champions League and International matches as they have to turn the terraced area back to seating) stadium was built for the 2006 world cup finals and is also hosting this years champions league final.
As you would expect from the Germans getting to and from the stadium is relatively easy, I got the U-bahn (underground) from Marienplatz (the main square) to Fröttmaning, a station which has four platforms and plenty of sidings in which to store trains ready for the post match exodus back to the City Centre. I was impressed by how quickly I got back after the final whistle, no queuing just a continuous flow of people onto the platform and then just a two minute wait for a train.
There were plenty of fans wandering around, drinking beer and singing in the City Centre prior to the game, they like to get decked up in everything “Bayern.”
Practically all Bayern matches get sold out, today was no exception but I managed to get a ticket through the “Viagogo” website, I just needed to show my email and credit card before picking my ticket up.
As you approach the stadium from the underground station it looks quite small, a white oval shaped honeycomb gleaming in the sunshine. That soon changes especially inside, I took a walk up to the top level and from there it looked fantastic, a football cathedral!
The game itself didn’t disappoint either, with Bayern in second place needing a win to close the gap on leaders Borussia Dortmund they had no option but to play their big guns Franck Ribéry, Arjen Robben and Mario Gomez, even though they might have liked to rest them with the second leg of their Champions League tie against Basel coming up on Tuesday night (the Swiss having a 1-0 lead from their home leg).
Bayern were fast out of the traps taking the lead in the fifth minute through Gomez-on his way to a hat trick. Ribéry stood out for me, he was involved in everything and mainly through his efforts the game was over by half-time, with Hoffenheim 5-0 down hardly able to get out of their own half.
Bayern were 7-0 up and out of site by the hour mark, they could have had more but were over elaborate, looking for the perfect goal! The visitors did get a consolation goal five minutes from time when former Liverpool man Ryan Babel took advantage of Luis Gustavo’s slip and was about to score when Gustavo, chasing back inadvertently put the ball past his own keeper Manuel Neuer.
The atmosphere was a little quiet at the beginning of the game but obviously got better with the scoring! After each Bayern goal The White Stripes “Seven Nation Army” was played (very appropriate) followed by some interaction between the announcer and the fans which I found very amusing.
Footnote: Bayern went on to beat Basel 7-0 on Tuesday in their ongoing conquest to play in the Champions League Final in their home ground.
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