Foreign Football Experiences

[GBJ]

Off the back of @Ricky Otto’s Napoli adventure, here’s the official thread to put all your foreign football adventures. Pictures, reviews, thoughts and recommendations all welcome.

I’ll begin with a Club who play in Blue and White, based in a city that is also a seaside resort, their nickname & mascot is a sea creature & they have been on a torrid run over the last few years, which will almost certainly see them playing regional football next year…. You can see why I’ve adopted them as a foreign team, right?

Malaga C.F. A team who once upon a time found themselves at the higher end of La Liga, played regular Champions League Football and have had some incredibly famous names donning their blanquiazules shirt.

A really nice home ground called La Rosaleda (The Rose Garden) which holds about 30k I think. It’s a short walk to the ‘old town’ part of the city and there’s plenty of bars along the way to soak up the atmosphere. A really passionate fanbase who are friendly and welcoming in the main. Have been here a few times and always keep an eye out for their scores and progress. Would highly recommend a trip to Malaga and La Rosaleda

 

[GBJ]

Incidentally, I’m off to València next month and plan on going to the Sevilla game. First time in Valencia, so will gladly accept any tips, recommendations for the Mestalla

 

[manor15]

Incidentally, I’m off to València next month and plan on going to the Sevilla game. First time in Valencia, so will gladly accept any tips, recommendations for the Mestalla

The bar which used to belong to Manolo el del Bombo (a guy who followed Spain around the world with a drum) is a good spot pre/post-match. Been taken over since he went bust but still full of memorabilia and all sorts: https://goo.gl/maps/C6TGCvKYQdL8hNki6

And Valencia itself is a lovely place, Ciutat Vella and the old town is the nicest bit as a visitor, and most places around the very centre are walking distance, then there's a metro/cheap taxis if you want to get to Mestalla or the beach which is a bit further out.

Fixture dates/times aren't out yet, but Levante are at home (also in Valencia, in the promotion fight from the second tier) and Villarreal (1 hour down the road on a local train service) are as well if you want to make a real weekend of it.

 

[GBJ]

The bar which used to belong to Manolo el del Bombo (a guy who followed Spain around the world with a drum) is a good spot pre/post-match. Been taken over since he went bust but still full of memorabilia and all sorts: https://goo.gl/maps/C6TGCvKYQdL8hNki6

And Valencia itself is a lovely place, Ciutat Vella and the old town is the nicest bit as a visitor, and most places around the very centre are walking distance, then there's a metro/cheap taxis if you want to get to Mestalla or the beach which is a bit further out.

Fixture dates/times aren't out yet, but Levante are at home (also in Valencia, in the promotion fight from the second tier) and Villarreal (1 hour down the road on a local train service) are as well if you want to make a real weekend of it.

Thanks Sam. I’m staying right on the outskirt of Ciutat Vella, so will be exploring the region in search of a few refreshing Alhambra Gran Reservas.

Yes, I’m holding off on buying my ticket for the Sevilla game until dates and times are confirmed. I know the Spanish have a habit of switching things around at short notice. Levante are at home on the same day València play Sevilla (as it stands), so will opt for the Mestalla.

Time for you to add some Madrid shots and thoughts to this thread

 

[GBJ]

@Tangled up in Blue would be interested in your Espanyol pics/thoughts too

 

[Grayson]

I went to Union Berlin in 2016 whilst they were in 2nd tier. Great club.

Sadly they've got really good and I was unable to get a ticket when I went to Berlin again recently.

 

[manor15]

Go on then, a couple from me in the last few weeks:

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu for Real Madrid vs Liverpool. Crap game but good atmosphere. Stadium in the centre of the city and a proper arena, always a treat to visit the Bernabéu, especially on a European night.



Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano for Atlético Madrid vs Sevilla. 6-1 win, first time with fans there that Atleti have scored 6 since they moved stadiums. Bizarrely picked up this pin badge of the old SUFC crest from a vendor outside the ground for 50 cents. Got my season ticket here so my go-to option, great stadium as well, just a little far out from the centre.



Vallecas is a fun trip, usually stinks of weed, and the stadium is falling apart. But they’re a mental and fun bunch and three-sided grounds are more fun when the block of flats behind is full of old men watching on their balconies. This was a 2-0 win for Real Sociedad against Rayo Vallecano.



And the other top flight stadium in Madrid is the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, Getafe’s stadium named after a player who never played or had anything to do with the club but came from the town. No roof means it’s not fun when the weather isn’t as nice as it was for my last visit in October. They lost to Valladolid 3-2 in this one.



And a trip to Porto to see them beat Rio Ave 1-0 at the Estádio do Dragão. Cool ground with the open ends, and a lovely city so well worth visiting. Tickets were only a tenner as well.

 

[Napster]

The old Bayern Munich stadium to watch them beat Emile Mpenza's Hamburg 3-0.

Lots of sleeveless denim jackets on show; but a programme for a Euro, being allowed to take a beer into the stadium, and a free flag to wave on entry - and it was a decent game.

 

[Smiffy]

@sussex by the sea one for you to contribute on...

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

@Tangled up in Blue would be interested in your Espanyol pics/thoughts too

Indeed I'm off to see them on Sat. night -home to Celta.(saw Espanyol play in the Copa del Rei final at Valencia's ground ,some years ago now).

 

[Target man]

The old Bayern Munich stadium to watch them beat Emile Mpenza's Hamburg 3-0.

Lots of sleeveless denim jackets on show; but a programme for a Euro, being allowed to take a beer into the stadium, and a free flag to wave on entry - and it was a decent game.

Been to that ground on a tour and tried to recreate that old Van Basten 88 Euro final goal moment ..... didn't work out quite as well for me!

 

[Target man]

Been to a few down the years:

Old Munich ground - Germany. Amazing experience.
Nou Camp Barcelona- incredible!
Celtic/Rangers/Hibs/Hearts/Motherwell - if they count as foreign!
Thessalonika Greece - big slab of concrete in the middle of nowhere!
Luserne Switzerland - played in 88, got MOTM.
Played Italy/Austria - can't recall where but nice grounds.

Hoping to watch England play in Malta this June- will report.
Hoping to watch Poland v Fairo Islands in Warsaw in September - will report.

 

[Ricky Otto]

Some from my trip to Napoli v Eintracht last night. Great game, great result, great city

 

[Ricky Otto]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1636126275256434688

 

[KAB]

I've been lucky to see some classic games at The Marassi, home to Genoa Football and Cricket Club, they were formed by an English man, and Sampdodoria whose supporters are the original ultras and are indeed different to any other fans in Italy, they hold true to the ultra ideals. The most stunning game of football I've ever seen, and this includes Southend who I've supported all my life, was Genoa v Juventus 2009 on a Saturday night. It finished 3 2, the atmosphere was like nothing I'd ever experienced and when Del Piero took a penalty the stadium became a bear pit and the goal shrank visibly before my eyes, Piero calmly slotted home, big big balls that man and he was magnificent to watch. The final whistle was met with incredible emotion and that emotion continued long after the game, I was stuck in a car park for 2 hours with Genoa supporters thronging the streets, continuous hooting from cars that reached a crescendo when the Genoa team bus left the ground with a police escort, people leaning out of the surrounding flats and shouting crazily, it was after midnight at this point and when I eventually got on the road I stopped for a coffee on the motorway and the place was packed with partying Genoaisti. This was just a league game where nothing was decided. Plenty of other memories from Doria too that come close but that night was beyond words.

 

[Ricky Otto]

I've been lucky to see some classic games at The Marassi, home to Genoa Football and Cricket Club, they were formed by an English man, and Sampdodoria whose supporters are the original ultras and are indeed different to any other fans in Italy, they hold true to the ultra ideals. The most stunning game of football I've ever seen, and this includes Southend who I've supported all my life, was Genoa v Juventus 2009 on a Saturday night. It finished 3 2, the atmosphere was like nothing I'd ever experienced and when Del Piero took a penalty the stadium became a bear pit and the goal shrank visibly before my eyes, Piero calmly slotted home, big big balls that man and he was magnificent to watch. The final whistle was met with incredible emotion and that emotion continued long after the game, I was stuck in a car park for 2 hours with Genoa supporters thronging the streets, continuous hooting from cars that reached a crescendo when the Genoa team bus left the ground with a police escort, people leaning out of the surrounding flats and shouting crazily, it was after midnight at this point and when I eventually got on the road I stopped for a coffee on the motorway and the place was packed with partying Genoaisti. This was just a league game where nothing was decided. Plenty of other memories from Doria too that come close but that night was beyond words.

Aren't Genoa getting a new stadium? I'm sure it was them I saw pictures of a proposed new stadium that looked amazing

 

[KAB]

Aren't Genoa getting a new stadium? I'm sure it was them I saw pictures of a proposed new stadium that looked amazing

Both clubs have submitted plans for new stadiums fairly close to each other but of course, they may end up sharing again. Napolis ground was due for demolition a long time ago but with the gomorrah involved, it could take forever.

 

[Fred]

Spending a few days in Alicante at the end of April and looking to catch my first La Ligue game. Relegation doomed Elche v Rayo Vallecano. Only the best.

 

[Mr Plow]

AC Milan Vs Napoli in 2011 (last time we won the Scudetto up until last season) the less said about this season the better although nice to make it to the QFs of the Champions League for many years but can;t see us making it any further, Result that evening was 3-0 Milan with a wonder goal from Pato in a packed San Siro. Behold, 2011 camera phone quality:




And in 2019 a trip to Berlin for a stag do saw us visit Hertha Berlin, as you can see camera phones are slightly better:

 

[Realist]

I’m not a fan of being a two team ****, but having said that when I stayed in Italy for a 18 months I did watch Parma for the majority of the home games one season. I wouldn’t call myself a fan but it was a very different cultural experience.