On Tuesday, 9 April, Real Madrid will face Manchester City at the Bernabeu in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. It is the third consecutive season that the two teams have met in the Champions League knockout stages with the previous two ties coming in the semi-finals. The Bernabeu is sold out for what should be a blockbuster match between two of European football's best teams.
How many Manchester City fans are going to Madrid?
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Manchester City were given an allocation of 3,840 tickets for the match against Real Madrid and all tickets are now sold out. Tickets were originally exclusively sold to season ticket holders with a certain amount of loyalty points. However, the last remaining tickets ended up going on sale to official members at the club who had registered before the 15th of March.
It isn't anticipated that too many Man City fans will travel without tickets. Playing Real Madrid is no longer a fantasy for City fans who endured the dark days at the club and most match-going Blues will have already ticked off the Bernabeu in one or both of the previous two seasons.
City fans who do make the trip over to the Spanish capital will more than likely spend the majority of their time in Plaza Mayor. The central square is usually a hub for away fans before matches against Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid with the square's perimeter littered with bars and restaurants.
Where do the Manchester City fans sit in the Bernabeu?
Real Madrid aren't overly kind with where they put away fans at the Bernabeu. City fans will be situated in the fourth-tier in the North-East corner of the stadium so they will do well to make their voices heard. Despite being the fourth tier, the view is actually still pretty good from the away end. The Bernabeu is incredibly steep so you don't feel miles away from the action like you do at other large stadiums.
Full fans' matchday guide for Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Many Manchester City fans will already know their away around Madrid pretty well after plenty of trips here in recent years. However, for those making their way over to Madrid for the first time, here is everything you need to know.
Where to eat and drink for Manchester City fans in Madrid
As already mentioned, Plaza Mayor is a hotbed for food and drink in Madrid and you won't go wrong if you head there on matchday due to the volume of available places. If you'd rather spend a bit of time outside of Plaza Mayor then there are plenty of other options elsewhere. Three bars/restaurants to check out in Madrid:
- El Parnasillo del Príncipe – C. del Príncipe, 33, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain
- James Joyce – C. de Alcalá, 59, Salamanca, 28014 Madrid, Spain
- La Cervecería Deportiva – C. de las Veneras, 7, Centro, 28013 Madrid, Spain
Ticket collection info for Manchester City fans in Madrid
Manchester City fans have confirmed there will be no ticket collection in Madrid for visiting supporters for the Champions League quarter-final. Instead, the club are sending out paper tickets from April 2 onwards.
They have advised, however, that all fans should carry their passport or some form of identification with them to the stadium. Real Madrid will be doing identification checks to make sure all tickets are in the hands of those they were sold to.
How to get to the Bernabeu: Guide for Manchester City fans in Madrid
The Bernabeu isn't a million miles away from the centre of Madrid so walking is a possibility. From Plaza Mayor, the total walking distance is just one hour so if you set off in the early evening you could take a casual stroll to the stadium, stopping off at a couple of pubs en route.
Alternatively, you can stay in the heart of Madrid until as late as possible before boarding the City's metro line to the stadium. You will need metro line #10 which goes directly to the Bernabeu. As the name suggests, once you get off here you will be right outside the stadium.