It's not County Road

Real Madrid v AC Milan. Two of World footballs great teams, head-to-head in one of the games shrines.

Last Wednesday I was lucky enough to get two tickets for this Clash of the Titans. This game had been built up all week as the first test of Mourinho's revolution, added to that we had the return of Robinho and the chance to see some of Europe's top show ponies: Pirlo, Seedorf, Ronaldinho, Ibrahmovic, Ronaldo, Ozil. You could say I was fairly excited.

Obviously this type of affair doesn't come cheap, 50€ for the cheap seats up to 150€ and touts asking for 200 to 500 outside the ground. Thank God for contacts.

The pre-match entertainment was provided by Milan's Ultras and Madrid's finest, a quick bouncing on the toes by the Ultras followed by a charge by the Police and it was all over. Obviously as history shows there is no Italian version of “Stand!”.

I know our neighbours go on about their special European nights, but the Bernabeu on the night of a big game is something special. The noise in the streets around the ground is just what you would expect; loads of tooting horns, flags and lost tourist types (so a bit like Anfield).

The atmosphere at the Bernabeu is normally atrocious but for Eurpean games it does kick up a notch, led by a sad gang of fascists behind the south goal, the Ultra Sur, knobs to a man. The ground has various levels and pitch level is below street level, something English clubs do nt even seem to consider when looking at increasing capacity.

Just time for a few cañas, they aren't big drinkers and you wont find anything like the Chepstow round here, the ground is built in a very well-to-do neighbourhood.

So to the game, that god awful Champions League music belted out and we were all set.
To be honest it was a bit of a disappoinment, all over basically in 15 minutes with two of the spawniest goals you could wish to see. This didn't stop the crowd going mental. Milan built the worst wall since Heysel, Ronaldo snotted it , one nil. A minute later it was two, the very impressive Ozil hitting his shot into the floor and in off  a defender's head. No idea who. Pirlo had a good effort from a free kick, don't know if Casillas saved it or it hit the bar. (It's amazing how much you don't see if you actually go to the match isn't it?).
Half time came and everyone in sight opened up their “bocadillos”, big sarnies, this is tradition at all Spanish games. It also provides tinfoil to throw at the pitch.

Madrid dominated the second half, Robinho came on to some comedy booing and had a good effort saved and Ronaldo, surprisingly, treated to us to some comedy diving and one ludicrous penalty claim. So it ended, hugs all round and into the night for a few late drinks.

If that had been us the bars around the ground would have been bouncing long into the night, Spain as their old ad used to say is different. Everyone just buggers off leaving the bars empty, which was nice.

All in all a good night, test passed, pity they won but you can't have everything. If you ever get the chance to come over and get to a night match jump at the opportunity. I would still rather be at Goodison any day but it will do for now.

P.S. Thanks for the tickets Juan.

Feelingbluer