redkev Posted March 16, 2023 Report Share Posted March 16, 2023 Looking for recommendations of grounds to visit around Europe, never been a great fan of watching England abroad,don’t get me wrong love watching everyone there and recently us doing well in tournaments but to much baggage for me , sorting tickets , chavs causing problems , being targeted by the police etc etc . So over the next few years I have set myself a bit of a bucket list of European grounds to go to , just see what the atmosphere on the day is before and after the game , what the grounds are like , quality of the game , oh don’t forget check the bars out as well ,basically just get a match day experience as if I was going to watch City but obviously without the passion Spain Italy Germany France Portugal Poland possibly a Scandinavian match ( beer bit pricey there though ) any other thoughts .I await with interest. For starters I hear Athletico Bilbao is good un . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Popodopolous Posted March 16, 2023 Report Share Posted March 16, 2023 (edited) Quite liked the Olimpico when I watched Roma v Inter in 2017 with a friend- a good experience! Could drink in view of the pitch too and indeed better they were selling it in the bowl of the stand itself- now that's what I call service! We were behind the goal in the section adjacent to the Roma ultras. Felt a bit freer than a lot of English grounds in the 2010s. From memory they were sectioned off from us in the other bit..no chance to sneak across. Probably membership and season ticket only at that stage otherwise I'd have looked to buy in there. Stewarding was less hands on than it can be here. Decent game too, first home game of season for Roma, evening kick off either 7.45pm or 8.45pm local time- still lovely and warm, crowd seemed 'well oiled'. Roma scored 1st, lost 3-1 but hit woodwork 3 times- lively game. Good Roma team too, reached CL semis that year despite losing Salah, Rudiger, Spalletti- Totti had just retired too. About 50k there, the hostility towards Spalletti when his name was read out 2ss quite something as he jumped ship that summer to go to...Inter. Roma 1st home gamr of next season? Why, Inter! Edited March 17, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Club and Country Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 Get to the San Siro for a big game, incredible place 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinmans Love Child Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 (edited) 6 hours ago, redkev said: Looking for recommendations of grounds to visit around Europe, never been a great fan of watching England abroad,don’t get me wrong love watching everyone there and recently us doing well in tournaments but to much baggage for me , sorting tickets , chavs causing problems , being targeted by the police etc etc . So over the next few years I have set myself a bit of a bucket list of European grounds to go to , just see what the atmosphere on the day is before and after the game , what the grounds are like , quality of the game , oh don’t forget check the bars out as well ,basically just get a match day experience as if I was going to watch City but obviously without the passion Spain Italy Germany France Portugal Poland possibly a Scandinavian match ( beer bit pricey there though ) any other thoughts .I await with interest. For starters I hear Athletico Bilbao is good un . This guy is worth a watch on YouTube for stadium ideas, he's done vids on San Siro recently but also does obscure and different grounds all over, very interesting videos for football fans in general Edited March 17, 2023 by Tinmans Love Child 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrum Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 Dortmund or San Siro for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Cyril Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 There is a great site called mysteryawaydays.co.uk. Just choose your budget and get a cheeky surprise. Flight, match tickets together and now I think they include hotel. You don't get to pick the match or location, but when is an away day ever bad, assuming it's not with City? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1960maaan Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 I was going to say what @Mad Cyril just posted, seen some great feedback. One I would say could be good is Bilbao. Direct flights from Bristol , tickets available and a great City and Stadium. There was a thread on here somewhere with recommendations and experiences , can't recall the title though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terpin Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 Bit biased here, but would recommend the Vålerenga - Lillestrøm derby in Oslo for a trip a bit more off the radar: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoystonFoote'snephew Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 For a large ground experience I love Dortmund but why not watch a game in Belgium. The Jan Breydel stadium home of both FC and Cetcle Bruges has always been a favourite of mine, easy to get to and the supporters clubs are worth having a drink in. If you can get to the Bruges Derby or a match against Anderlecht the atmosphere can be electric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welcome To The Jungle Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 San Siro on a misty, winters night is incredible. St Etienne had a great atmosphere, but unsure about their attendances in L2 at the moment. Fenerbache and Galatasary are enlightening, I preferred the former. Nou camp you'd be miles from the pitch but get a great view and it is iconic. Bernabeau is overated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
22A Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 10 hours ago, redkev said: Looking for recommendations of grounds to visit around Europe, Summer is coming, so Barcelona or in a lower league, Ibiza Town. https://www.google.com/search?q=ibiza+football&rlz=1C1GCEJ_enUS819GB852&oq=ibiza+football&aqs=chrome..69i57.4179j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 Makes the Mem look poor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudski Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 I'm surprised so many are saying the San Siro. I've found it really boring and I've been a few times. Middle of no where as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiddenGem7 Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 Allianz is really good and Munich a fabulous city not on many peoples radar in my experience. Worth trying to get a game against a team that can give Bayern a game though (CL or top Bundesliga) as games against weaker teams or end of season dead rubbers can be quite dull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dredd Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 The Olympic Stadium in Berlin is a great ground with loads of history, and Berlin itself is also a great weekend 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 Old firm game is a great occasion. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davefevs Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 Just now, Dredd said: The Olympic Stadium in Berlin is a great ground with loads of history, and Berlin itself is also a great weekend Went there on my stag weekend, snowing, about €7 to get in, great laugh. Herta 1-0 Stuttgart. ”there’s only one Freddie Bobic, one Freddie Bobic, walking along singing a song, walking in a Bobic wonderland” 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollydog Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 A few years ago my son and myself based ourselves in Düsseldorf for a long weekend. We saw Fortuna, Cologne and Bayer Leverkusen but there are others within a 30 minute train ride including Schalke, Dortmund, Borussia Monchengladbach, Bochum and Duisburg. National football museum in Dortmund is excellent and there’s lots more non-football stuff to see. Public transport is cheap and reliable. Anywhere in Germany would be good atm as you can buy a rail pass allowing you the go anywhere in the country for a month for only 49euros. Lisbon would be my other recommendation- great city and two great football stadiums. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrytheb Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 Not sure this is the best way to link it but here's the thread I started a while ago. Still not managed to get to any games as mates are all useless https://www.otib.co.uk/index.php?/topic/213579-european-football-visits/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewisdabaron Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 You will be welcome in Tilburg to watch Willem2. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The turtle Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 Union berlin (from what I've heard it's another level of support, they are actually worried the secret is out) San siro - not long left. Drink in the centre, then go. Incredible city centre/average city overall though Atletico Madrid - bigger the game the better. Cadiz (their whole football culture is based on party, who cares about the result it's high on my list to visit, heard a lot of good things) Tenerife - Sunshine + drinks + football. Especially if you can mix with carnival in February. Atalanta - read about them. Utterly committed City to their team. Even if the city airport does serve Milan (useful for going) ................. P.s Bilbao v sociadad - the most curious of all derbies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southside Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 Atletico Madrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2015 Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 1 hour ago, Dredd said: The Olympic Stadium in Berlin is a great ground with loads of history, and Berlin itself is also a great weekend I loved going to the Olympic Stadium. Actually amazed me how Hertha Berlin have never really achieved much on a European stage compared to other Capital City Clubs in Western Europe. Probably the biggest underachievers in European football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malago Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 Try Seville. Beautiful city and both Sevilla and Real Betis have great grounds with memorable atmospheres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonBristolian Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 The only time I've done this is watching Athletic Bilbao. That's an incredible ground. I'm really keen to watch Ajax at home at some point but not really sure if that's based on anything rational. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
italian dave Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 2 hours ago, spudski said: I'm surprised so many are saying the San Siro. I've found it really boring and I've been a few times. Middle of no where as well. It's certainly middle of nowhere, but it's more like a proper football ground (unlike, say, the Olimpico in Rome). I liked it. Although that may have been helped by the fact that Rijjkard, Van Basten and Gullit were all playing for Milan when I went! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudski Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 1 minute ago, italian dave said: It's certainly middle of nowhere, but it's more like a proper football ground (unlike, say, the Olimpico in Rome). I liked it. Although that may have been helped by the fact that Rijjkard, Van Basten and Gullit were all playing for Milan when I went! I agree the Olimpico is rather soulless unless it's a big game. The one I've enjoyed the most in Italy is Genoa/ Sampdoria. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
italian dave Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 12 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said: Quite liked the Olimpico when I watched Roma v Inter in 2017 with a friend- a good experience! Could drink in view of the pitch too and indeed better they were selling it in the bowl of the stand itself- now that's what I call service! We were behind the goal in the section adjacent to the Roma ultras. Felt a bit freer than a lot of English grounds in the 2010s. From memory they were sectioned off from us in the other bit..no chance to sneak across. Probably membership and season ticket only at that stage otherwise I'd have looked to buy in there. Stewarding was less hands on than it can be here. Decent game too, first home game of season for Roma, evening kick off either 7.45pm or 8.45pm local time- still lovely and warm, crowd seemed 'well oiled'. Roma scored 1st, lost 3-1 but hit woodwork 3 times- lively game. Good Roma team too, reached CL semis that year despite losing Salah, Rudiger, Spalletti- Totti had just retired too. About 50k there, the hostility towards Spalletti when his name was read out 2ss quite something as he jumped ship that summer to go to...Inter. Roma 1st home gamr of next season? Why, Inter! The Olimpico for a derby match is something else. Lazio and Roma ends both in full voice and unbelievable 'coreografia' - visuals. (Although the last one I did both sets of fans were on strike and it was deadly dull!) I saw one not long before Totti retired: Lazio fans had a similar hostility to him, and more. At this game a firecracker was thrown at him by Lazio fans during the game. Not normally to be condoned, I know, but it couldn't have gone more like a dream for whoever threw it. Landed about 5 m behind him, he was completely unaware, and it went off with the loudest crack you've heard. He hit the ground like he'd been shot, and needed several minutes treatment before he was able to continue! The only downside is you don't get the Lazio eagle - which is the best pre match entertainment ever. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
italian dave Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 2 minutes ago, spudski said: I agree the Olimpico is rather soulless unless it's a big game. The one I've enjoyed the most in Italy is Genoa/ Sampdoria. Ha ha - typing about the derby matches above as you posted this! Never been to Genoa/Samp - I must try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spudski Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 21 minutes ago, italian dave said: Ha ha - typing about the derby matches above as you posted this! Never been to Genoa/Samp - I must try it. It really is fun. The ground is English in feel. I think it might be a while for the next derby. Samp going down, Genoa going up. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welcome To The Jungle Posted March 17, 2023 Report Share Posted March 17, 2023 3 hours ago, spudski said: I'm surprised so many are saying the San Siro. I've found it really boring and I've been a few times. Middle of no where as well. Only went once. It was dark and so misty you couldn't see the Genoa fans at the other end. I was in with Inter's Ultras, which included a first half silent protest, then the second half was crazy to compensate. And Inter won which helps. It was all round a very intense and intimidating evening in an iconic stadium. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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