Atletico Madrid v Eibar
Vincent Calderon Stadium
Madrid, Spain
6 May 2017
This game was high on the bucket list as it would be my last opportunity to visit 'the Cauldron' because Atletico have only three matches left to play here before they move to the Wanda Metropolitano located close to the main airport. The other games are v Real Madrid in the Champions League Semi Final (2nd Leg) on the 17 May, and the final La Liga game is against Atletico Bilbao on 21 May. This will end a period of over 50 years at this incredibly atmospheric ground.
Our view from behind the goal in the North End is stunning
Attendance: 46,748
Atletico bounced back from their 3-0 mid week drubbing at the Bernabeu to claim this tight contest by 1 goal to nil, courtesy of a cracking goal in the 69th minute by Saul Niguez. Eibar played with great resilience but the team from the small town in the Basque country finally succumbed in the later stages of the match.
We're all Atletico today
The day begins on our street in La Latina (named after a famous Cardinal), you can just see the edge of his old church
The front entrance is next to a Pet Shop
Roof tiles of Madrid
Today is Match Day No1 and so we head by foot to Embajadores metro station to take the yellow line (3) to Arguelles. By heading to the stadium in an anti clockwise direction we will get to pick up some different sights.
The Rosaleda (Rose Garden) - just down the hill from the metro stop at Arguelles
Parque del Oeste (West Park)
Principe Pio Station where we get Line 6 (Silver) to Oporto and then change for Marques de Vadlilo on Line 5 (Green)
First beer of the day at the Cruz Blanca Bar just by the metro
The Bridge of Toledo at the Marques da Vidlalo Square
Facing the North Bank and Pyramids Roundabout
The Cauldron taken from the Bridge of Toledo
26 Degrees C and rising
Manzanares River
The Bridge is built in the Baroque style between 1718-32
On the North Bank the atmosphere is building
Pin Badge Stop
Atletico 'Central'
The Main reception to Atletico Madrid including
Club Shop and Museum entrance from
The Preferencia (West Stand) with the M30
Dual carriageway running beneath it
Taquillas (Box Office)
Horses on the M30
Paseo de los Melancolicos
Beer outside El Parador (The Hostel), less than 100 m
from the Stadium and highly recommended for neutrals
It's getting really hot now and the beers are flowing
The walk to the entrance to Fondo Norte
We eventually find the Ladies
The Atletico mascot 'Indi the Racoon'.
Tifo - "I get up and fight". Probably reference to the 3-0 demolition in the 1st Leg of the Champions League Semi Final against arch rivals Real Madrid
Lateral (East Stand)
Fondo Sur (sometimes called Curva Sud)
is where the ultras stand
Tifo - 'Heroes of the Cauldron'
Preferencia (West Stand)
The Lateral (East Stand)
Pano
Fondo Sur
Lateral and Fondo Sur
Me and Alfonso
Fondo Sur
Full time and 1-0 to the men in red and white stripes
Catching the rays
Colour co-ordinated Horses
Leaving the Cauldron we head North by foot to find a
bar or two on the way back to La Latina
Monument Gate at Puerta del Toledo
The Fuentecilla (the Source) is a small fountain commemorating Fernando VII. We pass it on our way to the next Tapas bar where there awaits a Calamari sandwich with my name on it!
Immigrant kids playing footie in 'Plaza Agustin Lara'
deep in the slum barrios of Lavapies
The Church of the Pious schools of San Fernando in Lavapies was an educational institution for the poor founded in 1729, but was burnt down by 'cenetistas' (left wing anarchists) during the Spanish Civil War in 1936
Next beer stop is Tirso de Molina Square
The 'Bear and the Strawberry Tree' in La Puerta del Sol is the symbol of the City and also of Atletico Madrid,
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