Liège is the most important city in the Walloon region. It’s a fiery city full of French and Italian influences. After a visit to Sclessin, you can only conclude one thing: Standard is Southern Europe's most northern-located club.
There's always something cooking in the French-speaking Liège. If you are able to give the city humanlike features it would be punchy, enthusiastic and intense. The same can be said about the city’s football club Standard. Standard is the most intense and intimidating club of the Benelux where the ups are extremely high and the lows are extremely low. The intense atmosphere, however, can also turn against Standard. If the team’s performing badly, ‘the hell of Sclessin’ can become Standard’s biggest enemy.
Sclessin, officially known as the Stade Maurice Dufrasne, is not only magical due to the fanatical supporters. The way the stands have been built, the surrealistic surroundings of impoverished working-class neighbourhoods and abandoned factories, which can be seen from within the stadium, all add to the appeal. Between all the brown and grey tones, you’ll suddenly find an enormous red colossus of Standard de Liège.
The three-tiered stands are incredibly steep and very close to the pitch. Even if you’re sitting in the highest tier it feels like you’re on top of the players. If you’re an away fan you’re looking at an entire stadium filled with boiling fans.
Behind stand 3, you’ll find the street Rue Ernest Solvay: The place to be before a game. Throughout the day the street will be filled with coaches with supporters from all over the country. They tend to drink a couple of pints near the bus or in one of the many food and drink stands on the street.
In the city centre, you’ll find Place Saint-Lambert, the city’s most famous square. It’s not often that Standard becomes champions of Belgium, but if they do – last time in 2009 – the whole city erupts. Place Saint-Lambert is the epicentre of all festivities, especially when the players arrive on the terrace of the Prince-Bishops’ Palace.
Want to have a large meal before the match? Consider going to Les Caves du Portugal (on Rue Pied-du-Pont-des-Arches 2), which is near Place Saint-Lambert and the river Meuse. For years, Standard has had a strong connection with Portuguese football and attracted some great Portuguese players to the club such as Sergio Conceição, Jorge Costa and Ricardo Sa Pinto. They felt at home in the city and were regular customers in this typical Portuguese restaurant, which to this day is still popular amongst Standard’s players.
On the other side of the river Meuse, you’ll find the famous Le Mechoui chez Rabah (Chaussée des Prés 11) with the best food from the Northern-African kitchen. From the inside, it’s like a tribute to Standard and football within the city given the great number of kits and photos of footballers which decorate the restaurant. The restaurant is a favourite for Axel Witsel and Marouane Fellaini, whose photos are displayed on the wall. Even the one and only Zinedine Zidane ate at the restaurant, something the Algerian owner is extremely proud of.
Liège offers more than Standard alone. FC Liège, also known as Royal Football Club de Liège, is one of the oldest football clubs in Belgium (matricule number 4). It’s a club with a decent amount of fans, but unfortunately, they play on quite a boring complex in Ans.
The Stade de Pairay in Seraing, however, is much nicer and only three kilometres away from Sclessin. If you cross the river Meuse when you’re at the Sclessin, you’ve entered Seraing. RFC Seraing plays in Belgium’s highest division since their recent promotion, but there’s no rivalry between the clubs.
One of our favourite stadiums in Belgium is only a short drive away from Sclessin: The Stade de Buraufosse from RFC Tilleur. It’s a beautiful old stadium with two charming stands which completely disappear into the hills that surround the stadium. Are you going to watch Standard on Sunday? Check RFC Tilleur’s website to see if they are playing at home in the afternoon. It can be a nice addition to your already great football trip.
In order to buy a ticket for Standard you need a (free) membership card. Officially, you can only get this at the stadium, but in our experience, a call or email to the club might do wonders.
From Motorway E42, take the exit Liège/Seraing and continue following Liège. This way you’ll drive along the river Meuse and you will notice Standard’s stadium on your left. Tip: Park your car on the other side of the river in the parking lot of Quai Mickiels. You’ll avoid the traffic jams after the game if you stay on that side of the river.
Additionally, you can also take a shuttle bus from Liège-Guillemins to the stadium.
Images: Shutterstock, Marco Magielse
