Another member of the Swiss first promotion league and another one of the victims of the season of death last season. While I'm on the subject of the Swiss first promotion league, I'd like to point out how initially, it is looking like a good initiative for the regional clubs who became national clubs. At the moment, the highest-placed club that was relegated from the Challenge League is Kriens, and they sit in 6th position. I think that very statement is a wake-up call for any Swiss Challenge League side finding themselves visiting a first league promotion team in the cup.
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| Mount Pilatus - The Normal Reason to go to Kriens |
Kriens is a small town, not far from Luzern. The normal reason for visiting Kriens is to get on a cable car that takes you up the magnificent Mount Pilatus where the views over the Vierwaldstätter See (Lake Lucerne) are breathtaking.
So when in Kriens, should you go up the mountain or go to the match?
After a single bus ride from Luzern station and a short walk we found ourselves at the Kleinfeld Stadion.
Getting tickets and entrance were no problem at all with no intrusive security.
Just inside the gate and there's a pleasant area for socializing. Here you find food stalls, drinks and nice places to consume them, including Stehtische (Standing Tables) right at the side of the pitch. These tables are by no means rare at Swiss grounds and do provide a very pleasent way to watch the game.
But like the football fans we are, Mrs. Duck and I made our way around to the Kriens Kop behind the goal.
Points Time.
Getting There
7 / 10. A single bus ride from Luzern station takes you to within 10 minutes walk of the ground. It is signposted, though not from all directions, so we did have a little guess work.
Friendliness
12 / 10. Friendly catering staff and we had a chat with the Kriens faithful after the game. Good guys who even invited us to go to the local Kriens Town Festival that was going on that weekend. We thought better of it, only because Kriens gave us the rare opportunity of getting home early after a Swiss 36 visit.
Stop press: We met those guys in Friburg a couple of weeks later. We enjoyed the second half with them, they gave us a lift to the station and even got us in first class for the trip home. 3 more points to Kriens!
Stop press: We met those guys in Friburg a couple of weeks later. We enjoyed the second half with them, they gave us a lift to the station and even got us in first class for the trip home. 3 more points to Kriens!
View
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| Executive Areas |
9 / 10. Kleinfeld means "Small Field" and that is quite apt. But it is a proper football ground so there's good viewing to be had all the way around the ground. Kriens, although a small club, seem to cater for all pockets and there is even what looks like an executive area.
7 / 10. Nothing, like fences to get really upset about. Very relaxed security. The only issue would be that the terrace steps are a touch high for my taste.
Atmosphere
5 / 10. Only 400 spectators in the stadium, but at least about 20 of them behind the goal were giving it a go!
Refreshments
7 / 10. Sausages and Burgers - standard fare. But everything was barbecued and I did like the way they did the burgers (you paid your money, received a burger in a bun and then added the additional stuff like onions, garlic etc. yourself). Very tasty too.
Ice Cream was also available and made a welcome desert. Despite the game being in late October, the weather was gorgeous. We actually attended the game in shorts and T-Shirts. I mention this because now, one week later, I am looking out of my window at about 9" of snow.
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| Nice Kit! |
Redeeming Feature
Now there's something about that Kriens home kit that I likle (for Swiss readers, it's identical to my home town team of Doncaster Rovers' away kit).
The Match
Absolutely no classic I'm afraid. The highlight came with the Visitors first attempt at goal in the 16th minute. And a successful attempt it was too.
Ndoy Balu received the ball from a poor Kriens headed clearance on the edge of the 18 yard area. He picked his spot perfectly and the visitors had the lead.
The rest of the game saw Kriens try and fail to get back from that strike. Juventus did a very good job in limiting Kriens time and space in midfield. For the rest of the game, both sides limited each other to half-chances, which neither were capable of converting.
A typical lower flight game, where defences dominated and there wasn't much to get excitided about.
To answer the earlier question that I posed. If you're in Kriens, and you have never done it before. Go up Pilatus on the Cable Car. If you have done it before, go up again if the weather is nice. But if the weather is not so good, there are far worse ways to spend and afternoon than watching a game of football.
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