Behind the scenes at Conference League final and what the UK must learn from Germany | Football | Sport

Germany just do things differently, don’t they.

A stadium within walking distance of the main train station, supporters mixed together in a sun-drenched fan zone with a picturesque backdrop and the warmest of welcomes to two sporting-rich nations.

And who can forget about the currywursts; served at half-time, full-time, morning time, all the time.

FlixBus kindly hosted Express Sport at the 2026 Conference League final to give us a glimpse of UEFA’s newest competition.

And boy it didn’t disappoint.

For those who haven’t been to Leipzig, the city centre is a similar size to Nottingham, densely packed and heavily pedestrianised.

You can walk from one side to the other in under 15 minutes.

So you can imagine how tight the narrow streets were packed when tens of thousands of Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano descended here.

Yet down every turn and every alleyway fans were stopping to help each other to take photos, chatting about the game and chanting for their respective sides.

Even the local waiting staff in restaurants and bars wanted snaps draped in Palace scarfs while waving their flags.

There were brief scenes of violence on Monday night but 99% of fans were on their best behaviour.

The majority of supporters arrived the day of the match and took to the streets to soak in the atmosphere.

Eight hours before kick-off a host of Champions League legends, including ex-Barcelona and Middlesbrough midfielder Gaizka Mendieta, competed in a five-a-side match on the edge of the fan zone. Of course the two-time Champions League finalist’s side romped to a 15-9 win.

There were various other pop-ups around the fan park. FlixBus ran a competition to give away tickets to the final and other brands had similar incentives. On stage, a freestyle footballer provided entertainment before a dj got people warmed up for the live screening.

Everybody knows how the match penned out by now. Palace wrapped up their third trophy in 12 months as manager Oliver Glasner signed out with a win.

Inside the ground the atmosphere was electric. Rayo Vallecano fans sung their hearts out from minute one to minute 90 and showed off a selection of impressive tifos.

And fans drank in the stands without any trouble at all.

It makes you wonder why UK drinking regulations are still so backwards. We’re not in the 1980s anymore.

Another special note to the German police, for which there were many.

Fans were not penned in the stadium like pigs after the full-time whistle.

All 48,000 in attendance made the short 25 minute walk back to city centre together, mingling and discussing the game. No trouble. No issues.

We can learn a thing or two from how the the Germans put on this brilliant occasion.

Some ‘bigger’ clubs dread qualifying for the Conference League.

But from their privileged position they have no idea how much it means to those further down the table.

Ask any West Ham or Palace fan, whom both enjoyed one of the greatest nights of their lives in the Conference League.

And Brighton fans will be licking their lips at the thoughts of following suit at the Besiktas Stadium in Istanbul next year.

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