Simme & Nihil - I'm interested in your views on this competition.

We're planning another Euro trip in July and had the idea of going to Dusseldorf on the 21st for the Ligapokal. There are two games there, one after the other, featuring Bayern, Schalke, Bremen & Karlsruhe. Perhaps if we did this we could perhaps find a game on Sunday as well (probably a testspiel).

What is this competition like? Is it just a pre-season friendly with very small crowds, or is something that clubs take seriously and that is worth travelling from England for?

Alternatively I think the Czech and Slovak seasons start the following week (still two weeks before the English season) and they look very interesting. Top flight match tickets for about £1 and beer even less

Last year's attendance in Düsseldorf was around 22.000, so it's definitely better attended than an ordinary pre-season game. Although there is a lot of money to win, the clubs don't take the competition too seriously but I suppose they will select their best squads. But don't expect any decent atmosphere in those two games, there are always lots of young kids and families and just a few "real" supporters. It's nothing compared to an ordinary, average game in the 1. and 2. Bundesliga. I wouldn't come over from England to attend just these two games, better wait till the season actually starts.

I doubt that there will be any standing areas at all.

Thanks.

There seems to be a bit more interest now for the Czech Republic, though I'll have to do a bit more research on that one. I can find my way around the German websites, though my Czech is a bit rusty!

I'll probably be back in Germany in August, hopefully to see Aachen again. One advantage of having Aachen now in the 2.Bundesliga is that most games are on Sunday's, so I can hopefully go to somewhere like Dortmund on the Saturday as well.

I can absolutely agree with nihil, it is not worth travelling for these matches. The whole competition is boycotted (as far as I know) by all ultra-groups of the participating clubs and many other organised fans because of to much commerce around this "event".

Don't waste your money on this crap. As Simme said, this whole "tournament" is totally irrelevant and draws a shocking amount of plastics who you'd never expect at a proper match.
I'd go for the Czech and Slovak matches, it's cheap and usually lots of fun.

I've not been to this, but I did go to a winter break tournament last season in Duesseldorf. I had a great time, loads of standing and singing, a general party atmosphere! If it's anything like that, you'll love it!