A Little Bit of Austria in Italy: A FC Südtirol Story

Seeing as though Arezzo are top of the league that 3-0 loss doesn't look too bad. You did well to come back and recover, however, and there's still plenty of games still to play.

September 21, 2014
Sudtirol 1 - 1 Unione Venezia

We stole a point, with Unione Venezia's goalkeeper being unlucky to mishandle a cross from the byline and having it go into the goal. We sucked, we didn't get a shot on goal, Unione Venezia should've beaten us, a far cry from the previous game in the cup.

September 24, 2014
Sudtirol 0 - 1 Renate

On three days rest, on a rainy day in Bolzano, we had a drab and uninspired game. Renate were better but for all their shots, they somehow only managed one goal.

September 27, 2014
Mantova 1 - 1 Sudtirol

Another rain game, we played much better and were unlucky to only come away with a draw.

October 5, 2014
Sudtirol 2 - 0 Pro Patria

Kevin-Prince Boateng will be happy to know we defeated his least favorite club. I ordered a bit more pressing, we had been too passive, and it seemed to work. As well, Pro Patria was victimized by their own goalkeeper, his bad distribution led to a goal for us, although it wasn't as bad of a blunder as certain English goalkeepers we know (whose names rhyme with "Ken Billiams").

October 12, 2014
FeralpiSalo 1 - 3 Sudtirol

Ivan Lendric had a great game, almost netting a hat trick but still coming away with two very impressive goals, as he was deadly at range. Luca Mezzitalli converted a penalty to provide the two goal margin.

Standings - After Round 10

We're 4th roughly a quarter of the way in! I'm still not sure how the promotion playoffs work, since 9 teams (3 from each group) will participate, but all I know is being there will be good for us, but being first will be even better.

You're pushing! Keep it up. Great updates as well

Good start. Moving up the table nicely

There are rumors coming out of Bolzano that Simone Branca could be out of Sudtirol at the first opportunity. He approached manager Sabrina Schwartz about a lack of playing time, and Schwartz affirmed that she only saw him as a sub. He told her he wanted out, and she said she would look into it at the first possible opportunity.

Branca is a very versatile player, being able to play on the left and in the center of midfield, however, he doesn't fit the more defensive center midfield profile Schwartz prefers in her 4-2-3-1 scheme, and he is outshined at left winger and in the #10 role.

October 17, 2014
Sudtirol 3 - 1 AlbinoLeffe

After going down in the 8th minute, Ivan Lendric decided to carry the team on his back, scoring a massive hat trick. The center backs decided to be the assist men, with each picking up one assist, hoofing it down to Lendric so he could score. Lendric's third goal was aided by a bit of comical goalkeeping as Davide Amadori came way off his line in what can be described as a Ben Williams-esque move.

Coppa Lega Pro 2nd Round
October 22, 2014
Catanzaro 3 - 2 Sudtirol

It was always going to be hard traveling to the current top team in Lega Pro C, but we should be disappointed with this, we just ran out of gas and time. Lendric continued on his fantastic form, bagging two goals, but unfortunately it wasn't enough this time as Catanzaro earned 3 with great team play.

October 25, 2014
Monza 3 - 1 Sudtirol

Monza is a city best known for their F1 circuit but apparently they have a pretty good football team, too. I knew it would be a long day as soon as my defender and goalkeeper had some miscommunication trying to get a ball dsown the corridor, which led Zigoni to score the first of his two goals, and he doubled up soon after. We got back in on it after Marco Martin's free kick was saved, but fell to Hannes Fink for an easy tap-in, but Monza pulled away again.

November 2, 2014
Sudtirol 2 - 2 Alessandria

I'm so pissed, this was one we should have won especially since Alessandria's Alex Sirri was sent off in the first minute. We lost our concentration and the goal that almost earned Alessandria the win was one my goalkeeper should've saved.

November 9, 2014
Lumezzane 4 - 2 Sudtirol

November 17, 2014
Sudtirol 0 - 3 Cremonese

We play the current first placed team in the league again, and the trend continues, we suck, we can't play defense for anything, and our attack isn't as dynamic as it had been.

Standings - After Round 15

We're in 10th, which is much worse than where we were last time, but there's still plenty of time to turn things around.

Keep up the good updates

I actually have a friend that lives near.

November 19, 2014 - Sudtirol was dealt a heavy blow today as winger Alessandro Campo suffered from knee tendonitis today after training, and will be out five to six months. This will put Campo's career in jeopardy, as the player just turned 30 and has suffered a major injury, it will at the very least likely end his Sudtirol career. Sudtirol's manager, Sabrina Schwartz, went on record as saying "There are a lot of young players itching for a spot in the first team, the door is open for one of them to take it."

If you've ever attended a Sudtirol game at Stadio Druso in Bolzano, Italy, you might have noticed a curious sight at one of the corners of the ground. There exists a burger stand and a burger van right next to each other, competing to see who can provide the tastiest burgers at the most reasonable prices to hungry supporters.

Matteo Schreiber is the owner of the burger stand, which has been selling burgers, soft pretzels, beer, and other appetizing foods for many years. "I love cooking, I love food, and I love sharing it with the people of Bolzano, and the Sudtirol supporters who come to the games. A fed fan is a happy fan, and a fed fan is one who can most powerfully support his team."

However, there is a rival to Schreiber's burger stand. A rival business has recently started to sell burgers out of a van in close proximity to the burger stand. Mr. Schreiber was angry at the burger van for what he felt was infringing on his territory. "How can you do that, just open up a shop right next to me! That is an insult, they are saying I cannot cook good food, they are challenging me!"

If it's a challenge, it seems to be a legitimate one, as the above picture shows the burger van is more popular than the burger stand.

The owner of the van, Nadine Himmelreich, could not be reached for comment, but we asked some Sudtirol fans what they liked, and they insisted the burgers from the van were cheaper and tastier, and seemed fresher.

It seems like in Bolzano, the football pitch isn't the only place where rivalry is heating up!

Funny update, but I feel for the burger stand - having to compete to sell his burgers now.

Well that was different.. but good haha!

November 23, 2014
Como 2 - 5 Sudtirol

Como started it, but we more than finished it, hopefully ending our losing ways with this thrashing that was so bad it got Como's manager sacked. Michael Cia picked up two goals as the standout performer.

November 30, 2014
Sudtirol 1 - 0 Pavia

I am just glad we won despite both of our fullbacks going off injured. Left back Marco Martin broke his arm and right back Sebastian Mladen pulled his hamstring, both will be out about a month.

December 7, 2014
Bassano 4 - 1 Sudtirol

It was 1-1 at halftime, but Bassano broke things open with three second half goals.

December 14, 2014
Sudtirol 2 - 3 Novara

We had a 2-1 lead and blew it, we'll never accomplish anything playing like that.

Standings - After Round 19

We're not in too bad of a place but we can't keep dropping points.

Half-Season Stats

Ivan Lendric has had a good goalscoring record, 12 league goals in 19 appearances, but winger Michael Cia has been the engine for this team, scoring 6 goals, 6 assists, and winning 5 player of the match awards.

Just need that little bit of a consistency, a good run, and then before you know it you could be in and amongst the promotion race!

Not the best of months but there were some hard games

Alto Adige is a beautiful place to go on vacation too I missed out on the start of the story, but I'll following! daje.