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I just came back from a 4-day trip with a friend to Madrid, where we were fortunate enough to lay our hands on some tickets to the last Real Madrid match of the season, against Levante (Madrid won 5-2). What we didn't know was that they apparently hadn't celebrated their recently won league title in their own stadium yet, so we were tremendously surprised when a huge celebration took place in the stadium afterwards.
Most definitely an event that will last with me forever!
Well, here are some of the pictures I snapped that day - I hope you like 'em!
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu stadium during daytime, one day prior to the match (when we went ticket shopping):
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Sunday, May 18th 2008, 9:00 pm: playtime. We sat on the 3rd tier, very high up in the stadium, but we did have seats on the first row, so unobstructed view:
A minute of silence before the game (I don't know who was honoured):
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The pictures I took during the game unfortunately turned out to be out of focus (fast movement and difficult lighting conditions), so I'll continue with the ceremony that took place afterwards.
Preparing to collect the cup, to show it to the fans:
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The honorary round (they took their time, as it lasted about 20 minutes):
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When 80.000 people go apesh*t, this is the result:
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The crowd goes wild:
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VERY wild:
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Afterwards, the players retreated to the dressing room, the stadium lights were dimmed, and the ceremonial part of the night started.
Roman candles lit by the Madrid firm, the Ultra's:
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It was a rather theatrical ceremony with loads of victorious symbolism and chestbeating (understandbly so, although not really my cup of tea), but spectacular nonetheless. Unfortunately also a bit hard to photograph as well.
The 31st league title:
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A 'tent' made of sheets sheets was erected to show some highlights of the previous season:
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Then there was the honouring of the individual players, coach and staff:
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Campeone, campeone!
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And obviously there had to be fireworks!
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And then it was all over, and everyone went home. I was amazed to see that within 30 minutes the streets surrounding the stadium were completely deserted again:
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The next day, in search of a place to have breakfast, we accidentally bumped into another celebration. This time the players thanked their fans from the balcony of a building (forgot the name) on Puerta del Sol.
Coach Bernd Schuster speeches:
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And to wrap things up a couple of pano's I took during the match itself.
Before kick off:
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The visitors were asked to wave mirroring sheets of paper, handed out by the Real Madrid fan club, when the game neared the end. This is the end-result of that:
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Poor, poor clean-up crew:
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During the ceremony:
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Well, that's all, y'all! I hope you enjoyed it :cheers:
Most definitely an event that will last with me forever!
Well, here are some of the pictures I snapped that day - I hope you like 'em!
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu stadium during daytime, one day prior to the match (when we went ticket shopping):
Sunday, May 18th 2008, 9:00 pm: playtime. We sat on the 3rd tier, very high up in the stadium, but we did have seats on the first row, so unobstructed view:
A minute of silence before the game (I don't know who was honoured):
The pictures I took during the game unfortunately turned out to be out of focus (fast movement and difficult lighting conditions), so I'll continue with the ceremony that took place afterwards.
Preparing to collect the cup, to show it to the fans:
The honorary round (they took their time, as it lasted about 20 minutes):
When 80.000 people go apesh*t, this is the result:
The crowd goes wild:
VERY wild:
Afterwards, the players retreated to the dressing room, the stadium lights were dimmed, and the ceremonial part of the night started.
Roman candles lit by the Madrid firm, the Ultra's:
It was a rather theatrical ceremony with loads of victorious symbolism and chestbeating (understandbly so, although not really my cup of tea), but spectacular nonetheless. Unfortunately also a bit hard to photograph as well.
The 31st league title:
A 'tent' made of sheets sheets was erected to show some highlights of the previous season:
Then there was the honouring of the individual players, coach and staff:
Campeone, campeone!
And obviously there had to be fireworks!
And then it was all over, and everyone went home. I was amazed to see that within 30 minutes the streets surrounding the stadium were completely deserted again:
The next day, in search of a place to have breakfast, we accidentally bumped into another celebration. This time the players thanked their fans from the balcony of a building (forgot the name) on Puerta del Sol.
Coach Bernd Schuster speeches:
And to wrap things up a couple of pano's I took during the match itself.
Before kick off:
The visitors were asked to wave mirroring sheets of paper, handed out by the Real Madrid fan club, when the game neared the end. This is the end-result of that:
Poor, poor clean-up crew:
During the ceremony:
Well, that's all, y'all! I hope you enjoyed it :cheers:
