Football Orphan at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.
Good morning folks, it’s great to be back again! Fresh from a week-long break in Madrid with not one, but two major european stadia visited and checked off the list. First up came the visit to the Vicente Calderon to see Atletico Madrid take on Real Zaragoza. As per usual when visiting a stadium for the first time, I went pretty close by public transport then just followed the home fans the rest of the way. On approach to the stadium, having exited the Piramides Metro station, just before that first glimpse of the stadium, it was almost impossible to disguise the childlike excitement bubbling under the surface. The prospect of seeing my first La Liga game in person, was within touching distance. Before I knew it, there it was in all of its glory, Estadio Vicente Calderon. Possibly the most modest stadium facade I have encountered in all of my travels.
Having evaded almost all of the street vendors, most of which are selling the traditional in-game snack, sunflower seeds, I realised that all modesty was kept for the perimeter of the stadium. Once inside Vicente Calderon, it becomes grossly apparent that this is a club of major stature, only second in the Spanish capital to arguably the world’s most supported teams. In a season in which Atletico have struggled to match expectation, it was no surprise to find the stadium at little less than capacity. This mattered not to the home supporters in attendance as they sang, chanted and cajoled at every given opportunity. Even the ladies present, of all ages I might add, weren’t shy about expressing their emotions and “pointed” words.
The game itself was highly technical, possibly one of the most technical I have ever attended. There was no room for complacency as a strictly disciplined Real Zaragoza were stretched by a probing Atleti team short on confidence. When the home side took the lead on 19 minutes with a magnificent header from Adrian after a superb cross on the right-wing all nerves were extinguished. The lead was further stretched when shambolic marking was punished by Dominguez as he headed home from close range on 31 minutes. As the game looked totally out of Zaragoza’s reach, they were finally put to bed by a superb move with 15 minutes left, as Adrian scored his second as his effort cannoned in off the crossbar. Former Tottenham striker Helder Postiga pulled one back for Zaragoza just minutes later, but it was never going to be anything other than a consolation goal.
As the final whistle brought the game to a close and the Atletico fans disappeared into the night, I couldn’t resist staying behind to drink in this wonderful stadium for a while longer. With the Olympic stadium due to house Atletico Madrid in a couple of seasons, this was my only chance to take in this good old-fashioned “Don’t make ’em like this anymore” stadium. Many great players have passed over the immaculate Vicente Calderon pitch over the years, for me it was a great honour and privilege to witness a game in such a tremendous environment for football. As I made my way through the thousands of discarded sunflower seed shells and out into the night, I realised that as much as I love my own club, I will have a sneaky look at the results with the hope that this great club will begin to prosper once again.
Football Orphan 