Augsburg

Ground: WWK Arena (Augsburg Arena)

Visits: 1

Date: 4th November 2017

Match: Augsburg - Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 (Bundesliga)

Attendance: 26 133

Having been to 1860 München v Memmingen on Friday evening the decision where to go for Saturday was an easy one. FC Augsburg were hosting Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga at 15.30 and with WWK Arena (Augsburg Arena) being my last remaining ground in Germany´s top division this was of course a special day for me. I purchased a Allgäu-Schwaben Regio ticket meaning I could travel on any regional train from Munich to Augsburg (and back!) for only 20 Euros. Wanting to do some sightseeing I departed München Hbf at 11am and 50 minutes later I was in Augsburg. With temperatures reaching 12-13 °C it was quite pleasant walking around in the city centre. Augsburg has a population of 290 000 and is the “capital” of the Schwaben area of Bavaria. The city is probably most famous for the so called Augsburg confession, the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran Church and one of the most important documents of the Lutheran reformation. WWK Arena is situated far away from the city centre but there are plenty of trams bringing you to the ground. FC Augsburg were promoted for the first time ever to the German top division in 2011. As the club were rising in the German league pyramid a new football ground, to replace Rosenaustadion, was a necessity and in 2009 the new ground was opened. WWK Arena as it is called nowadays has a capacity of 30 200 and is situated in the Haunstetten area of Augsburg.

My seat was in the Gegengerade and from there I had a great view of the action. The four seats to my left were actually occupied by fellow Swedes but they were not people I knew from before. Leverkusen brought around 300 fans to Augsburg this afternoon but being in the corner to my left I could still here their songs and chants. Legio Augusta is the main Augsburg ultra group and they seem to be in the upper part of the home terrace (Nordtribüne). In total 26 133 turned up for this game but despite a few chances for both teams it was still 0-0 at half-time. In the second half two goals were scored. The two goals were scored within 90 seconds of each other, 0-1 in the 47th minute and then 1-1in the 49th minute. Most of the VIP-people actually missed both goals since they, as usual, only returned to their seats 5-10 minutes into the second half. They game ended 1-1 and after the game I made the tram back to the city centre without having to wait. There are shuttle trams back to Augsburg Hbf but I walked a but further and used one of the regular trams. My visits to Berlin, Frankfurt, Leipzig and München were for the games in the 2006 World Cup but groundwise I have now completed the German Bundesliga. To celebrate I went to a fancy restaurant in Augsburg where I enjoyed a delicious Wienerschnitzel. Around 20.45 I was then back in Munich and tomorrow I go back home.