It’s been quite the season for Arsenal supporters. Off the back of an excellent 3-1 win over Liverpool at the beginning of February, the team have gone from strength to strength and are putting together a real title charge.
The club are also about to play in their first Champions League knockout game in seven years, against Porto on Wednesday night at the Estádio do Dragão. It’s a huge occasion, so here’s our guide for all the Arsenal fans in Porto.
How many Arsenal fans are going to Porto?
Contents
Arsenal have been given an allocation of 2,526 tickets for the game at the Estádio do Dragão. Unsurprisingly, those sold out almost immediately.
However, this is the first time Arsenal have played in the Champions League knockout stage since 2017, when they were beaten 10-2 on aggregate by Bayern Munich in the Round of 16.
For that reason, supporters will be dying for a proper European away trip, meaning we might expect 3,000 or even more fans to be making the journey.
They will be joined, apparently, by Rio Ferdinand. The former Manchester United and England defender was spotted by Arsenal fans on a flight to Portugal and he did not shy away from the attention, instead delivering a message about Bukayo Saka.
‘Thank you for flying with us Arsenal fans, this is @RioFerdy5 speaking…' ✈️
Don't forget you can listen to #UCL commentary, including Porto vs Arsenal this week on BBC Sounds!#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/JuYLCi5xek
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) February 20, 2024
Where do the Arsenal fans sit in the Estádio do Dragão?
Arsenal fans will be located in the South East corner of the stadium, on the upper tier between blocks 47 and 50. Interestingly this means they will be sandwiched in by Porto’s two Ultra groups, the Super Dragões and Colectivo Ultras 95, who sit (or stand!) in the South and North stands respectively.
Full fans’ matchday guide for Porto vs Arsenal
Arsenal and Porto have been no strangers over the years, meeting three times in the Champions League. However, it has been 13 years since Arsenal went to Porto, and so fans may have forgotten what they did when they were last there. Or, given that Arsenal have never won there, they might not want to remember!
Where to eat and drink for Arsenal fans in Porto
Portugal is, of course, home to Europe’s best beer – Super Bock – and there’s no shortage to the places to go out and enjoy one before or after the game.
Guindalense Football Club on Escada dos Guindais 43 is a bar which one served – as the name suggests – as the home of a small football team. The football team has unfortunately folded, but the bar is still going and has been open since 1976. It’s known for its cheap drinks, fantastic bifanas (Portuguese pork sandwiches) and beautiful view of the Douro river.
Adega Sports Bar on Rua de José Falcão 180 is football mad. Littered with scarves and shirts from all sorts of European teams, writing on the wall as you come in reads “You’ll never drink alone”. It closes at 2am on weekdays, serves burgers, and even offers port as part of its wide selection of drinks. Be warned that it is cash only.
Just down the road from Adega is the Gulden Draak at Rua de José Falcão 82. The pub is originally a Belgian chain, but strangely now has a branch in Porto. It is less football-focussed than the other two in this guide, but it will show pretty much any European game. Plus, it’s known for its ridiculously strong beer, so if you want to fall asleep before you get to the match then this is the place to go.
Ticket collection info for Arsenal fans in Porto
All tickets for the fixture are physical. Any supporters who have opted not to have their tickets delivered should have been contacted by email with information regarding the location and opening times of the ticket collection point.
If you have not received this email, please contact the Arsenal ticketing team on 020 7619 5000 or via their online form.
How to get to the Estádio do Dragão: Guide for Arsenal fans in Porto
Getting to the stadium by public transport is very easy. Porto has an excellent metro system with multiple lines serving the Estádio do Dragão.
From just north of the city centre, at stations like Bolhão or Trindade, you can take lines A, B, E or F directly to the stadium. Conveniently, the stop you get off at is simply called Estádio do Dragão.
If you’re coming direct from Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, line E will take you all the way to the stadium in just 36 minutes.
Be warned that traffic can get very busy on matchdays, so it is not generally recommended to drive to the stadium. If you really want to, Estádio do Dragão is just off the VCI (Via de Cinturna Interna), a ring road which circles around the city. This is the easiest way to access the stadium by car.
Finally, the Estádio do Dragão is about a 20-minute cycle from the city centre, and once you get to the stadium there are 150 spots for locking up bicycles.