Atletico Madrid Official Atletico Madrid website - http://www.clubatleticodemadrid.com/en/index.asp
Tickets - The 55,000 capacity Vicente Calderon Stadium has more than enough seats for all but the biggest games, so getting hold of tickets isn't usually a problem. Tickets go on sale from the ticket office at the ground 2-6 days before the game, depending on the fixture. For additional Atleti ticket advice please click here.
Stadium - The Calderon is an old school concrete bowl, easily reached by taking metro line 5 to the Piramides station. Click here for further information. Ultra Culture - If Real Madrid are rich and international in terms of fan base, then Atletico are working class and inner city. Their ultras - El Frente Atletico - were traditionally left-wing, but have recently swung to the right and are amongst the most feared in Spain.
MADRID
Overview - Madrid is a party city; its nightlife up there with the best in Europe. Football wise, you've got the choice between the earthy, grassroots always the bridesmaid, never the bride Atletico and the superstar galacticos representing the most successful club in world soccer - the one and only Real Madrid football team. Airports & Tranfers - Barajas Airport - nine miles north east of the city centre, linked by metro line 8 (journey time 45 minutes), or bus no. 200, which takes 20mins and leaves every 10-20mins. Tickets are 1Euro. Taxi's 20-25Euros. Nightlife - Renowned for its 4am traffic jams, Madrid likes to carry the party on all night long with literally hundreds of bars and clubs in the city centre. The densest concentrations of nightspots lie in two main areas - one around Plaza de Santa Ana and Calle de las Huertas, the other north of Gran Via in the Malasana and Chueca districts. Shopping - International designer names are clustered around Calle de Serrano, whilst smaller independent boutiques are found on Calle de Almirante in Chueca. Alternatively, follow the crowds to Madrid's legendary Sunday morning flea market, El Rastro, in the Embajadores area just south of the main square - Plaza Mayor.
Further reading -
Chapter 5 of Morbo: The Story of Spanish Football
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