The biggest Champions League tie of the play-off round sees Real Madrid take on Manchester City. The second leg will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, 19 February.
It is the fourth season in a row that the two clubs have faced each other, meaning that most travelling Man City fans will know the city of Madrid and the Bernabeu like the back of their hand.
However, for those making the trip to the Spanish capital for the first time, our guide below has everything you need to know about the Real Madrid away section and navigating the city.
Matchday – Getting to the stadium
Unlike the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, the Bernabeu is very close to Madrid, so walking to the stadium isn't out of the question if you find yourself in the north of the city centre. However, the walk from the central Madrid station is just over an hour, which isn't ideal.
Most people use the Madrid metro system to get to the Bernabeu, which operates throughout the city centre, meaning you are never too far from a metro stop. To get to the stadium, you must board a metro on line ten and then get off at the appropriately named ‘Santiago Bernabeu'. From here, the stadium is a stone's throw away.
Alternatively, fans can take a bus from the city centre to get to the stadium. Bus numbers 27, 40, 43, 126, 147, and 150 all stop at the Bernabeu.
Where is the Real Madrid away section?
The Real Madrid away section is up in the heavens at the Santiago Bernabeu, with visiting supporters situated in the top tier of the Fondo Norte. The away section wraps around the northeast corner, meaning most fans find themselves in line with the corner flag at that end of the stadium.
What is the Real Madrid away section like?
We won't sugarcoat it—the Real Madrid away section is far from the best in Europe. However, the one saving grace is the steepness of the stadium, which means you don't feel miles away from the action like you can at other stadiums where the away end is high up.
That's about as positive as it gets, though. The away section is deliberately far from the pitch so away fans can't be heard, creating an intimidating atmosphere for visiting players. Netting is also frequently put up across the front of the away section, which can distort the view of the pitch.
Real Madrid v Man City (Wed 19 Feb)
Ticket Information – https://t.co/ePXUHJhFFV pic.twitter.com/iOlXIIdsEe— Man City Fan Support (@ManCityHelp) February 6, 2025
Best pubs in Madrid
Madrid is a fantastic city to visit as a football fan, which is unsurprising given that two of the biggest clubs in the world are based here. It's also a capital city, which means it naturally caters to tourists. Away fans most commonly congregate in Plaza Mayor on a matchday, but three bars away from the main square that are worth a visit are:
- Calle 365 – Calle de Echegaray, 18, Centro, 28014 Madrid, Spain
- Beer Station – Cuesta de Sto. Domingo, 22, Centro, 28013 Madrid, Spain
- Areia – C/ de Hortaleza, 92, Centro, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Man City allocation for Real Madrid away
Manchester City have been allocated 3,913 tickets for the match against Real Madrid all priced at £50 each. All tickets for Real Madrid vs Man City in the away end went on sale on Friday, 7 February and at the time of writing, there are still some left.
Man City is selling the tickets staggered so that supporters who have attended the most previous European away matches get priority. From Tuesday, 11 February, anyone who has attended two or more earlier matches at the Etihad Stadium will be eligible to buy a ticket should any remain.