After the winter break it’s back to Unterhaching (south of Munich) for some 3. Liga action. We were greeted by some freebie battered sausage (panierte Weißwurst) – who knew that good old northern chip-shop cuisine had reached deepest Bavaria?
But, shock of shocks, no beer on offer in the beer garden. It was absolutely freezing, but still, the clue’s in the name.
Unterhaching have a nice little ground, which manages never to be even close to more than partly full, and almost always attracts next to no away fans. Recently playing in the Regionalliga meant that the presence of “II” teams was one reason for that, but this season there’s no excuse now they’re in the 3rd. Some kind of Bermuda triangle in evidence, clearly. Or maybe it’s just us – they hate us – and stay away when we’re in town. The ground and club do have something about them, though. I think you’d like it. I’d certainly recommend a visit for any keen groundhopper.
The game was interesting enough to stop us thinking constantly about the lack of hot drinks (mulled wine, anyone?) and relatively even – decided by a single goal for Wiesbaden. Another good example of two tidy teams with not much cutting edge. I think a key difference in the British and German game at this level is that players in Germany look inherently more accomplished than those in Britain, but manage to offer a lot less threat. There’s no hustle and bustle as you’d get in League One. Give me a battling centre forward any time. Is it that extra time and space which makes them look more skillful? Probably.
Anyway most of the goal action came from mistakes, players dawdling on the ball and getting caught out by a high press; however, the goal for Wiesbaden, when it arrived, was a header in a crowded box looping over the keeper – right on the stroke of half-time.
Date: 27.01.2018
Score: 0-1
Attendance: 1,600
For anyone not geoblocked, the highlights
