New York Red Bulls v Sporting Kansas City
Hamburg v Bayer Leverkusen
Hamburg v Bayer Leverkusen
For me it's travelling and seeing new things - the actual standard of Football means zero to me really now. I want to see different fan scenes, fan pubs, old Stadiums, different cultures. Try and see as much memorabilia as possible so research is a big part of that - finding out bars etc... where loads is on display. So many great Stadiums are going forever and I wanted to see them before they went, Football has changed so much since I started going week in week out 30 years ago (40 now)
I absolutely hate sitting at Football now, that is what going to various matches where you can stand and are lively has done to me.
Porto vs Leverkusen in the Europa League last year. Day after we beat Braga away.
Big group of Rangers congregated in the stand behind the goal and provided a better atmosphere than the two sets of fans.
Often by myself at these - better at the less popular gaffs as the locals are quite pleased you’ve chosen to go to their bar and Club. Amazing who you get talking to.100% mate. Stood freezing on a mound in a dilapidated stadium in a non-touristy district of Krakow watching a third division game - but it was a fantastic day. They had a barbecue on the go, the wee stall was just stocked full of cans of lager and it was just a really good feel to it.
I liked Vallecano, apart from the odd St Pauli flag! Reminded me of South America, match was a 12 on a Sunday in April. Came out the metro and loads of folk drinking and just making a noise in the streets. Seen Del Bosque collecting a ticket - ticket office was a room with a few folk selling them and taking cash in to tins, this was only in 2013 as well.Here's my list:
Hertha Berlin v Hannover
Rayo Vallecano v Levante
Atalanta v Bologna
Novara v Bari
Milan v Lazio
Malaga v Athletic Bilbao
Hutnik Krakow v Podlasie Biala Podlaska
Wisla Krakow v Lech Poznan
Netherlands v Iceland
I really enjoyed some of the 'lesser' games. For example although Milan was great and the San Siro and the curva is a great experience, the Atalanta game was absolutely the pick of the weekend and the best I've ever been to. Although we stood out like a sore thumb we were chatting to some lads and the atmosphere was just incredible. Also some Ultra gave me a smoke of his joint which was nice of him.
Same when in Madrid, I would recommend going to a Real Madrid game to anyone. But the Rayo Vallecano game we went to was 4-2, sun was beating down and a real local feel to the game.
Often by myself at these - better at the less popular gaffs as the locals are quite pleased you’ve chosen to go to their bar and Club. Amazing who you get talking to.
Went to Slovan Bratislava v Ruzumberok in 2017. Was surprised by how low key it was , barely a 1000 or so in the ground, mainly drunk shifty looking types in black leather jackets. Mind you the beer was dirt cheap.Seen both Ujpest and MTK in Budapest and Slovan Bratislava vs Trnava.
Went to Slovan Bratislava v Ruzumberok in 2017. Was surprised by how low key it was , barely a 1000 or so in the ground, mainly drunk shifty looking types in black leather jackets. Mind you the beer was dirt cheap.
Portugal v Bulgaria - Eusabio's last game. He came on as a sub. The game was shite.
Quite a plastic fixture to be fair that one mate! The town makes Milton Keynes look historic as well.Wolfsburg v RB Leipzig last year, dreary toon, hungover to f&@k (so bad I couldn’t even bring myself to have a beer at half time - a novletyand a nothing each draw. German fan culture needing some conductor Fanny to lead the singing, shite.
Plus I was in the home end and Wolfsburg wear green, all round shite day out.
Although copious amounts of quality German beer curers after the game did compensate a bit.
Just a touch,Loads of trouble i take it?
Fucking pissing myself at that mateBeen to quite a few. really impressed by real betis experience last year apart from the colour of their strips. Throughly enjoyed PSV's heaters on the roofs. San Siro just made me feel like an excited wee laddie. Toronto was weird because the standard was decent but the crowd didnt have a clue what was going on, getting massively excited by guys being up the pitch isolated in the corner but not appreciating some lovely stuff in midfield. Worst experience was my suncream getting confiscated in Albania, which for a baldy ginger scotsman in 40 degree heat is effectively grevious bodily harm. A few others in europe and loads down south as well.
The way the home fans were cheering for both sides when they scored.What made it different obviously I understand it would be but how would you review it? How was the game atmosphere etc if you don't mind sharing.
Can anyone share their experience of games they've been to abroad? Working on a wee project and keen to hear about some games people have been to.
Anywhere from La Liga to Los Angeles Brazil to Bosnia.
Would be interested to hear just a general review, atmosphere, the build up, ticket cost, ease of getting tickets, the pre game drinks the city itself etc. Just anything linked to the whole experience.