Spanish Capital Gripped by Football Fever
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Sports FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2016 Spanish capital gripped by football fever MADRID: Crosstown rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid-who will meet in the Champions League final on Saturday for the sec- ond time in three years-are omnipresent in the Spanish capital. Bars decorated with football jerseys of the two squads can be found across the city, their football crests can be seen every- where and the two team’s imposing stadiums dominate their neighborhoods. Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium, a monument of concrete pillars located in a well-off neighborhood in northern Madrid close to the office towers of Spain’s biggest companies, can seat 81,000 spectators, making in Europe’s fourth-largest stadium. The club’s museum showcases the many trophies the team has won over the years and received 1.2 million visitors last year, making it the third most visited museum in the Spanish capital after the Reina Sofia modern art museum and the world-famous Prado Museum. The Reina Sofia, home to Picasso’s 20th century masterpiece “Guernica”, received 2.6 million visitors while the Prado Museum, Spain’s leading art museum, got 2.5 million visitors. “Every time I go, I have the same fun as when I was a child. When I think that so many great footballers played there,” said Antonio Armero, 52, a member of Real supporters’ club “La Gran Familia”. Atletico’s Vicente Calderon stadium, with a capacity of 54,900 spectators, is located further south in Arguenzela, a modest neighborhood of red brick apartment buildings by the Manzanares river. It is often regarded as one of the loudest and most boisterous grounds in European football thanks to the fans’ songs and chants that rain down from the stands. “Bernabeu is theatre. People applaud or whistle,” said Leo Rodriguez, 50, an MILAN: People walk by a billboard portraying Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronald (left) and Athletico Madrid’s Fernando Argentine supporter of Atletico. “The Calderon feels more like Torres, at the Champions Festival event area, in Milan, Italy yesterday. The Champions League soccer final between Real Argentina. We sing, we shout, we live.” Madrid and Atletico Madrid will be held at the San Siro stadium tomorrow. — AP ‘It’s a shame’ Five ‘key’ Champions League final clashes But Atletico is becoming less and less the club of working class people. In 1995 it opened its new training ground and acad- MADRID: Real Madrid face local rivals ago as it was his stoppage time header that Karim Benzema v Diego Godin emy in Majadahonda, a wealthy Madrid suburb. The club is build- Atletico Madrid in the Champions League sent the game into extra-time, with Los The secret to Atletico’s success in Diego ing a new stadium on the site of La Peineta, once a proposed final for the second time in three years at Rojiblancos just seconds away from victory. Simeone’s five seasons in charge has been Olympic stadium, east of Madrid’s city centre. Milan’s San Siro tomorrow. Atletico are aim- Real’s captain has had a poor season by his a rock-solid defence led by Uruguayan war- “It’s a shame. If we had been consulted, we would not ing to win the competition for the first time standards as he has often been bothered by rior Godin. Thanks to Godin’s discipline and change,” said Gerardo Aranda, 75, a member of the club since after losing out 4-1 to Real after extra-time in a shoulder injury, but has returned to form in organisation, Atletico have already kept 35 1964. Each team has its own supporters’ clubs called “penas” that the final in Lisbon two years ago. By contrast, a 10-game unbeaten run since early April. clean sheets this season, including eight in regularly organise events or travel to watch their team play at Real are already the most successful side in Griezmann is Atletico’s major goal threat. their 12 Champions League games and five away matches. “La Gran Familia” (The Great Family), is one of Champions League history as 10-time win- The Frenchman has scored 32 times this sea- in their last nine outings against Real. Real’s largest clubs with over a thousand members. They meet in ners. Here, AFP sports looks at five key clash- son, including a double to knock out holders Benzema had his best ever goalscoring sea- a chic bar with several giant television screens located near the es that could decide the outcome. Barcelona in the quarter-finals and the all- son in La Liga with 24 in 27 games, but is Bernabeu stadium. important away goal that sealed Atletico’s still to register for Real in a final and has Armero said the club used to meet “in a small typical Spanish Cristiano Ronaldo v Juanfran place in the final against Bayern Munich in scored just three times in 22 appearances bar” until its owner retired. “We had our own room on the second Three-time World Player of the Year the semis. Moreover, Griezmann also scored against Atletico. Ronaldo is looking to match his own record the winner the last time these two sides met floor, with jerseys, portraits of presidents of the club,” he added. If of 17 goals in a single Champions League in February. Gareth Bale v Filipe Luis Real win their 11th Champions League title on Saturday, their season, which he set with Real’s fourth from Luka Modric v Koke Bale is in the best form of his Real career supporters known as “merengues”-will gather at Plaza de Cibeles the penalty spot in the final two years ago The stars at both ends of the field will three years after joining for a world record in front of city hall to celebrate. If Atletico win the title, their fans- before famously tearing off his shirt to show be dependant on midfield maestros Modric fee and has been the man for the big occa- known as “colchoneros” or “mattress-makers”-will celebrate off his toned torso. Atletico right-back and Koke to provide them with the service sion since moving to the Spanish capital, about 300 meters (1,000 feet) further south on the broad tree- Juanfran’s understated nature couldn’t be necessary to make the difference. Modric’s scoring against Atletico in the final two years lined Paseo del Prado by the Neptune Fountain. more different. However, his consistently sol- ability to control the game with his range ago and in the 2014 Copa del Rey and Club Madrid government officials remain carefully neutral. The head- id defensive displays have seen the former of passing has made him arguably Real’s World Cup finals. quarters of the Madrid regional government in the central Puerta Real player seal his place in Spain’s Euro 2016 most consistent performer this season. However, that is Bale’s only goal del Sol are decorated with the crests of both teams. The San Anton squad and keep Ronaldo quiet in recent Koke’s phenomenal work rate has seen against Atletico and his glory moment in church in the trendy and gay-friendly Chueca neighborhood has Madrid derbies. The Portuguese has scored him run more per match than any other Lisbon only came after Luis went off done the same on its doors facing the busy Hortaleza street. And, just twice as Real have won just one of the player in the Champions League this sea- injured. The Brazilian briefly left Atletico for those who refuse to support either team, the capital region last 10 matches between the sides. son at well over 12km per game. However, after Lisbon for Chelsea only to rejoin at hosts several other clubs with thousands of passionate supporters the Spanish international also adds a the start of this season and has kept Bale that navigate between the first and second divisions, such as Rayo Sergio Ramos v Griezmann touch of class to Atletico’s midfield and in check whenever he has been faced by Vallecano, Getafe CF and CD Leganes.— AFP Ramos broke Atletico hearts two years has 17 assists this season. the Welshman. —AFP Atletico seeking final step to rewrite Madrid derby history MADRID: In the dying moments of Diego in October 2012 when the chasm between did it in style, winning the Copa del Rey also burst Atletico’s European bubble in a Simeone’s second Madrid derby as Atletico the clubs seemed insurmountable. In the 17 final at Real’s own Santiago Bernabeu. A tightly contested quarter-final last season Madrid coach, a banner was lowered encounters since, Atletico have won seven first league title in 18 years followed a week decided by another late Real goal scored by behind the goal his side was defending to and lost just five, including just once in the before the final in Lisbon in 2014. Simeone’s Javier Hernandez. The Champions League is display a stinging message: “Wanted: A dig- 10 matches since their first Champions men were seconds away from a first ever not just the only trophy Atletico haven’t nified rival for a decent derby”. Real League final meeting in Lisbon two years Champions League in the Portuguese capi- won in their history, it is the only one they Madrid’s fans have since got far more than ago. Yet, that match continues to define the tal until Sergio Ramos’s stoppage time haven’t won in Simeone’s tenure. they bargained for as Simeone has trans- rivalry and Real and Atletico’s relative equalizer sent the game into extra-time The Europa League, European Super formed Atletico from a self-destructing standing in Europe.