On Wednesday, 16 April, Real Madrid will welcome Mikel Arteta's Arsenal to the Santiago Bernabeu for the pair's mouth-watering Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie.
Truth be told, the home side are not at their glorious best right now and have lost a handful of games recently that will only give the Gunners hope of securing a surprise result in Madrid.
However, Arsenal themselves are not quite at the level they have shown in recent years. A lack of a pure goalscorer and a number of injuries, most recently to the reliable Gabriel in defence, have hindered the Gunners' ability to play their best football.
It will likely be an incredibly close game that is hard to call. If you are going to be one of the lucky Arsenal fans in Madrid come matchday, here is everything you need to know about the city on matchday.
How many Arsenal fans are going to Madrid?
Given the truly massive size of the Santiago Berbabeu, it is perhaps unsurprising to learn that Arsenal were given a fairly sizeable away allocation for this fixture – 3,875 to be precise.
Naturally, these tickets sold out extremely quickly and will form the majority of the Arsenal fans in Madrid come matchday.
However, the actual number of supporters in the city will likely be far higher, with many Arsenal supporters expected to make the journey, even without tickets, simply to soak up the atmosphere with the rest of the fanbase.
Where do Arsenal fans sit at the Santiago Bernabeu?
Full fans' matchday guide for Real Madrid vs Arsenal
Arsenal vs Real Madrid in the quarter-finals 🤤#UCL pic.twitter.com/fDxtSjj8MV
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 8, 2025
Madrid is a fantastic city and attracts plenty of tourists at the best of times. However, when Real Madrid are hosting a huge Champions League fixture, such as this one, the city gets just that little bit busier.
The guide below will provide some information on the best places to eat and drink in Madrid, as well as explain how to get to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Where to eat & drink for Arsenal fans in Madrid
One of the best aspects of Madrid, certainly from an away supporter's perspective, is the sheer number of pubs and bars in the local area.
Some of our top suggestions for travelling Arsenal fans are:
- James Joyce Irish Pub Madrid, C. de Alcala, 59, Salamanca, 28014 Madrid, Spain
- Luckia Sport Cafe, C. de Alcala, 397, Cdad. Lineal, 28027 Madrid, Spain
- The Irish Rover, Av. de Brasil, 7, Tetuán, 28020 Madrid, Spain
Most areas of the city are fairly welcoming, however, we do recommend hiding team colours until you are safely at the stadium to avoid any potential problems occurring.
Ticket collection info for Arsenal fans in Madrid
Arsenal have implemented away ticket collection practices for the majority of their European fixtures this season to ensure that only “genuine” Arsenal fans are able to attend the game.
For those who have purchased tickets, you will receive specific collection details via email in the days before the game.
How to get to Santiago Bernabeu: Guide for Arsenal fans in Madrid
The public transport system in Madrid, particularly that of the metro, is exceptional and is an excellent way to travel between the city centre and the Bernabeu on matchday.
Depending on your exact location in the city, you can make use of lines C1, C2, C3, C4, C7 and C10 – although for most supporters, C10 will be the best route available.
Once on board, you will typically arrive at your destination, Atocha train station, in around 20 minutes. From here, a short walk will be needed to get to the ground, however, this can be bypassed by jumping on bus services 27 or 14.