Sandhausen 1-2 Fortuna Dusseldorf, Sunday 27th August 2017

SV Sandhausen 1-2 Fortuna Dusseldorf (Bundesliga 2, att. 6,769)

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Holed up in Heidelberg with the love of my life, the choice of footie was thus: train ride 9 minutes to Sandhausen for a Sunday lunchtime kick-off, or the Monday night televised game at the granddaddy of Bundesliga 2 stadia, Kaiserslautern, but an hour and a half journey and a late night.  We went Sandhausen.  Besides, you can't go wrong with a shuttle service which meets you off the train and takes you direct to the ground.

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The Hardtwald is not one I'd advise you walk to, all dull (nice) suburbs and no pubs or any other businesses for that matter.  Still, there was a sparsity of home fans on that train.  Why can't Sandhausen, smallest team in Bundesliga 2, not tap in to the Heidelberg (pop. 200000+) market?

There were a number of Fortuna fans on the train from Heidelberg.  What perfect scheduling, an early away fixture allowing for a weekend in this picturesque enclave, beloved of Mark Twain.  I can't think of an equivalent in England.  Where's nice that’s 9 minutes from a team in our top 2 divisions?

Badger on the loose...

Sandhausen’s longevity in the upper levels (6 seasons and counting) has also resulted in stadium development which gives it a more than respectable 15,000 capacity. In fact, today's 6,800 felt more.  Fortuna bringing 2000+ must have helped, as was the small matter of the winners going top, albeit after four matches.

Away fans on left (seated) and right (standing).

Since I was last here (in 2013), the small main stand has been extended along the touchline, ostensibly to increase the VIP section.  Oddly, the roof is slightly higher, seemingly to give the VIP rooms greater height. However, the biggest change has seen two sides of the stadium completely rebuilt.  The small terrace opposite the main stand is now a stand with seats in the upper tier and a paddock in front, while behind the goal to its left, a small terrace has been extended and a roof added.  This being Sandhausen, all things must be on a budget and all the stands have propped roofs.

It does look a bit 'budget'.

Still, Sandhausen’s main support prefers to stand on a terrace adjacent to the main stand, even if the ultras have moved in behind the goal, where the terrace is perfectly split into between home and away. Some of the terracing in the home section was taped off, but given it's quite new I wondered if this was to huddle the rest of the fans together to help make an atmosphere.  (I’ve seen this on Saarbrucken’s giant home terrace.)

Sandhausen ultras

We sat behind the goal opposite.  Not the cheapest seating tickets (those were €17, lower tier of the main stand…wot used to be terracing…but these were directly in the sun, and boy was it hot.  I had asked for seats high up, so I was given Row 4, but no worries, we made our way up towards the back, beer and sausages in hand.  The first few rows also had those foldy up clapper things what Leicester City need to make an atmosphere.  We picked a couple up but gave them away to a couple of kids who'd come to the game with Mum.  It made the younger one’s day (mum was genuinely thankful too).

Looking towards the Main Stand.

The match went according to plan first half, with Sandhausen taking the lead midway through when an overlap lead to an easy header from the resultant cross.  Unfortunately, Fortuna learnt from that and scored in similar fashion themselves early in the second half, the pullback being sidefooted in.

Then that was it till the last minute of normal time.  I suspect the players were exhausted from running around in the heat (there were a fair few tackles too) but then heartbreak for Sandhausen as a ball over the top was lashed home on the half volley, high into the net.  A truly quality finish to end the match and take Fortuna to the top of the league.  Will they go up?  I can't say I was that impressed, but you never know.  (5/6/18: They did, winning the title on the last day of the season by coming back from two down at leaders Nurnberg to win 3-2 and take the title on goal difference.)

The teams come out.

All that remained was a little look around the club shop (some nice 2016 centenary mugs) before boarding one of the waiting buses to take us to the station, free.  I love Germany.  I love German football.

The Damage:

€20 ent

€3.50 beer (x2)

€3 wurst

€2.50 train

= €32.50

Hardtwald stadion panorama.

Sparkassen Tribune

Paddock of INWO Tribune.

Back of stand.

The view from the Sparkassen Tribune.

Fans in the Sparkassen Tribune.

Hardi the Badger warms up.

The Main Stand.

Standing at the far end.

Match action.

Tin Tunnels