The Teams
Krakow is home to two clubs who don’t share any love – Wisla Krakow and Cracovia. However the one thing they do share in common is they’re both two of the oldest clubs in Polish football with both clubs being formed in 1906. The stadiums are split apart by a 15 minute walk through, Krakowskie Blonia park, just like Liverpool and Everton. However, this is not classed as a ‘Friendly Derby’ – the rivalry is known in Poland as ‘The Holy War,’ and it’s amongst one of the most fiercest derbies in Europe.
The History
Wisla are 13-times winner of the Ekstraklasa and 4 times Polish cup champion – making ‘The White Star’ one of the most successful clubs in Poland. Cracovia have also had their fair share of success, being named champions on five occasions, the most famous being the 1948 win – which would to date be Cracovia’s last. At the end of the 1948 season the two famous clubs were locked joint top of the Polish first division. A final game was necessary to determine who would be crowned champions of Polska – Cracovia ran out 3-1 winners.
How to buy tickets
Apart from the derby game and games against Legia Warsaw and Lechia Gdansk you will not struggle to get a ticket for either team. Wisla play at the 33,130 capacity Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana – named after Wisla’s legendary player Henryk Reyman. I’ve visited this ground twice and both times I’ve been required to purchase a fan card, I’d recommend heading to the stadium a day before the game to pick up your fan card and ticket as queues on the day can be large. You need your passport or driving license in order to purchase a fan card. Cracovia play at the 15,016 capacity Marszałek Piłsudski Stadium – named after the famous Polish chief of state. You will recognise the stadium from the Euro U21’s 2017 championships. The same process for a fan card applies.
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