3rd Qualifying Round, 2nd Leg
FC Porto v Krasnodar
Estádio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal
13 August 2019
Tickets for this sell out were not easy to acquire so I used a third party tickets site to get two tickets behind the goal. It is always a risk for games abroad, especially if like me you do not use hotels. But true to his word the seller (an ultra from Porto) hand delivered the tickets to the post box in our apartment block
Estadio do Dragao (Dragon Stadium) is a modern stadium with a capacity of 50,033 and the 3rd largest in Portugal and in total has hosted 10 national team games for Portugal.
It was constructed to be a host venue for the 2004 European Championships, where it hosted:
1st Rd Group games:
Portugal v Greece (1:2)
Germany v Netherlands (1:1)
Italy v Sweden (1:1)
Quarter Final:
Czech Republic v Denmark (3:0)
Semi Final:
Greece v Czech Republic (1:0)
It also hosted both of Portugal's games in the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals:
Semi Final
Portugal v Switzerland (3:1)
Final
Portugal v Netherlands (1:0)
Attendance: 48520
Balcony view
First beer on Match Day
Tickets arrived just in time😅
Colourful houses on the Ribeira
Walking to the Metro, Super Bock in hand
The tram into town
Walking passed our old apartment
Over the road by the tunnel to Ponte Luiz 1
Rua das Flores heading to San Bento Metro Station
The stadium has the initial impression of a concrete monstrosity, but once inside this impression changed
Passing the museum
A great atmosphere at the stadium
as the crowds begin to arrive
Queues for the beer stalls are growing
Souvenir stalls are plentiful and do a roaring trade
Guard Dogs are employed to defend the merchandise
Ultra style😎
The Alameda shopping centre is a popular
pre-match meeting area for the Porto fans
View from the Alameda
Posing Russian Style 1
Posing Russian Style 2
Posing Russian Style 3
Posing Russian Style 4
"We are Krasnador" - "мы краснодар"
South Stand
Fans in the North Stand
Happy Dayz😎
Great view of the South Stand
Walking passed our old apartment
Over the road by the tunnel to Ponte Luiz 1
Rua das Flores heading to San Bento Metro Station
The stadium has the initial impression of a concrete monstrosity, but once inside this impression changed
Passing the museum
A great atmosphere at the stadium
as the crowds begin to arrive
Queues for the beer stalls are growing
Souvenir stalls are plentiful and do a roaring trade
Guard Dogs are employed to defend the merchandise
Ultra style😎
The Alameda shopping centre is a popular
pre-match meeting area for the Porto fans
View from the Alameda
Posing Russian Style 1
Posing Russian Style 2
Posing Russian Style 3
Posing Russian Style 4
"We are Krasnador" - "мы краснодар"
South Stand
Fans in the North Stand
Happy Dayz😎
Great view of the South Stand
The Porto orchestra
Super Dragons are one of the biggest ultra groups in the Iberian peninsular. They occupy the Curva Sul (South Stand)
West Stand
Surfer flags in the East Stand
The Russian support is high up in the East stand
Kick off is almost on us
Pitch looks fantastic
An early score for Krasnador by Vilhena.
Something is happening here.
Suleymanov scores on 14 minutes to make it 0:2
and we haven't even played 15 minutes
Suleymanov scores a second on 34 minutes to
make it 0:3 at HT. The locals are not happy
The Russians are ecstatic
So far so good for the Ruskies from Krasnador
Half Time = Beer Time
Second Half is beckoning
Je Zuis scores and Porto have woken up 1:3
Diaz makes it 2:3 on 77 minutes. Is the come back on.
The match finished 2:3 and Krasnador go through (on away goals) following their 0:1 defeat at home to Porto last week.
Gutted!
Ecstasy in the Russian camp
The next day we visit the cathedral and do some culture but sadly we didn't take the funicular to the cathedral
Vimara Peres was the first ruler of Portugal in the 9th C
The Cathedral in all of its glory
The Cathedral grounds are inspiring
Beautiful blue tiles create a nice back drop
to the interior walls
The views from the Cathedral to
Luis 1 Bridge are breathtaking
Sao Bento station is one of the most impressive in the world
The azulejo panels are breathtaking
To the East of the station is the Igreja de Santo lidefonso
The Fountain of the Lions
Two churches of Carmelitas and Carmo
Killing time before our visit to the tower
225 steps to ascend the 76m high
Church Tower of Clergos (Torre dos Clergos).
Photo opportunity on the descent
Next up, a river cruise on the Douro,
all for the most fee of €14
View from the river
River life
Sun burnt, wind swept and happy
View across the mighty Douro
Street art as we thread are way through the old Port houses
Sandeman has been trying here since 1790
Rabelo boats were used to transport wine from the Douro Valley to the city of Porto. Now they have been replaced by trains and trucks.
Port tasting in Vila Nova da Gaia
Power snooze
Partying with the kids from Lebanon
Igeja de San Francisco is an incredibly beautiful church and well worth a visit. Visit the catacoombs too.
Palcio da Bolsa (Merchants Palace)
from the Jardim do Infante Dom Henrique
Time for the Graham's Port wine tour
Impressive entrance
Barrel's stacked according to their respective vineyard
Graham's Tawny Port tasting option.
View from Graham's terrace
A gentle stroll down from Graham's to the Vila Nova da Gaia
James Bond at your service
Rabelo boats lined up
Jumping for cash 😱
No trip to Portugal is complete
without a glass of Mateus Rose
Back to the apartment and a nice fish supper
Eating in peace a few meters from the tram line
Grilling the fish
Sea Bass done to perfection
Sardines done to perfection - Matosinhos
White Port Spritzer
Monument to the relatives of a fishing vessel lost at sea
'Casting a net' - 50 meter high sculpture dedicated
to the fishing community of Matosinhos
Relaxing at the beach in Foz
We just can't get away from Super Bock
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