Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool: Guide to Madrid for the Champions League final, including food, drink, and travel tips

Lots of English people heading to Spain is pretty normal this time of year – but this weekend will see it reach another level.

Around 32,000 Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool fans with tickets are set to head to Madrid for the Champions League final, while thousands of others are off to get the party going ahead of the game – and you can hear it all live on talkSPORT.

Can Harry Kane get the better of Virgil van Dijk in Madrid?

It’s going to be an incredible atmosphere in the Spanish capital as the supporters descend on the 67,829 capacity Wanda Metropolitano on a scorching weekend, with temperatures set to hit around 33 degrees.

With a shortage of decently priced flights, fans are getting there in planes, trains, and automobiles, while we don’t doubt the odd boat will be used too.

Some supporters are even travelling via different cities in Europe to keep their costs down.

So, what do those heading to Madrid need to know about the city ahead of the biggest game of the season?

talkSPORT.com have produced a handy guide for those Tottenham and Liverpool fans on their way…

Factfile

Madrid is the third largest city in the European Union by population (behind only London and Berlin) with 3,223,334 inhabitants.

It’s the third largest by area (behind only London and Paris) covering 233.3 square miles.

It also has the (yes, you guessed it) third largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but is tenth on Monocle’s list of most liveable cities in the world.

Madrid is also the home of the government and of the monarchy, from where King Felipe VI rules.

How to get to the Wanda Metropoitano

If you didn’t already know, Atletico Madrid’s new stadium is actually on the outskirts of the city, although quite near the airport.

Atletico’s ground is on the east side of Madrid

The address if you need to put it in your favoured choice of map application is – Av. de Luis Aragonés, 4, 28022 Madrid, Spain.

Atletico Madrid recommend using the subway to get to the stadium and the closest stop is Line 7’s ‘Estadio Metropolitano’.

You can also take Line 2 and get off at ‘Las Rosas’ or Line 5 to ‘Canillejas’, both are about 15 minutes walking distance from the stadium.

CLICK HERE FOR A MAP OF THE AREA WITH SUBWAY STATIONS

Weather

Thanks to chaos theory, you can never quite predict the weather but the current forecast for the weekend is looking pretty hot, as you can see from the BBC’s calculations below.

Load up on the factor 50 sun cream and keep hydrated with plenty of water throughout the day – you don’t want to rule yourself out of the final with heatstroke.

Be sensible with your alcohol intake.

Food

If you fancy some traditional Spanish dishes, why not head to Restaurante Nuevo Horno de Santa Teresa, which is highly-rated on Trip Advisor.

Meanwhile, if you’re on the go the Bocadillos Oink should give you the perfect Iberian ham sandwich to take away.

If you’re looking for food to try, why not gobble up some ‘huevos rotos’ (eggs on fried potato), or if you’re feeling adventurous go for ‘oreja a la plancha’ (pan-seared pig ear).

Those of you with sweeter palates, though, can chow down on ‘churros con chocolate’.

Drink

“Una cerveza, por favour!”

Beer is likely to be the order of the day in Madrid. Over there you’re likely to be after either a pinta – basically a pint – while if you’re not up for that you can have a caña – a small 200ml glass.

Fancy a bit of wine? Ask for a vino tinto (red) or vino blanco (white) and forget the stereotypes, not everyone is slurping down sangria in Spain – your best bet for a sweet tipple is the tinto de verano, which is along the lines of red wine and lemonade.

Of course, we also recommend plenty of water – that sweet, sweet, H2O is vital on a sunny day.

Need to pay your tab? Try saying this: “Disculpe, la cuenta por favor” = “Excuse me, the bill please.”

It’s also worth noting drinking alcohol in the street and on the metro is illegal and you can be fined or arrested for doing so.

What to see

For the culture vultures out there who want to explore the delights of Madrid, there are plenty of things to do.

If you have the time to peruse a museum head to Museo del Prado to witness one of the finest collections of art in Europe.

Completing the ‘Golden Triangle’ of art museums are the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.

Elsewhere, Liverpool fans may fancy boning up on Egyptian kings at the National Archaeological Museum.

Fancy a lazy day in the sun? Head to El Retiro Park which is full of stunning sculptures, elegant architecture, and rolling lawns nearly as good the Wanda Metropolitano pitch.

You can even witness Madrid’s oldest tree – leave your Fernando Llorente jokes here – which was reportedly planted in 1633.

Apps

Citymapper is an absolute must, as those who use it in London will attest, while Trip Advisor is also handy in general to seek out food and drink.

Madrid Metro – Map and Routes should ensure travel isn’t too much of a hassle, and Guides by Lonely Planet is a perfect pick for those looking to see a little bit more than Jordan Henderson lifting Ol’ Big Ears.

Other information

Around the ground there will be a number of fan events throughout the days before.

If you’re taking a bag you’re only permitted a small backpack up to a maximum size of 25x25x25cm. Larger bags will have to be stored outside the venue in designated depots.

Flares, fireworks, alcohol, cans, glass, bottle tops or containers over 1/2 litre are not allowed in the stadium. Soft drinks and food are available inside the stadium.

Flags are limited to 3m x 2m in size and only those with plastic poles are allowed. Flags larger than this must be flame retardant and a fire certificate must be provided. Flags with twin-poles are not allowed.

Size matters when it comes to flags in Madrid

Emergency contacts

Spanish emergency services can be reached by dialling 112.

Should you need the British Consulate address, you can find it below:

British Consulate-General Madrid

Torre Espacio

Paseo de la Castellana 259D

28046, Madrid

Spain

So, go and enjoy yourselves in sunny Spain and may the best team win but if you aren’t there then you can listen to live commentary of the Champions League final on talkSPORT, kick-off 8pm.

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