Thetownend.com

Right then. Forgetting for a moment the abject misery and depression that is STFC...

We're off to Portugal in April. 5 days in Lisbon and 5 days in Oporto. As I like to do in these situations I intend to see a bit local football whilst there. When we're in Lisbon, Sporting are playing Academica. I'm figuring no problem with that whatsoever. Pay on the door and the stadium will be probably half full/empty (unless someone knows anything different). The next week, Porto are - conincidentally - playing Sporting. Getting into this one will be a slightly different matter I imagine although I'm sure I will manage it somehow. I've looked briefly at a couple of websites which are charging silly money (by silly I mean in the hundreds and I'd rather just watch on TV than pay that). I will also contact our hotel to see if they can do anything or if necessary take my chances at the stadium. It would be quite nice to get them sorted out in advance if possible. Anyone know any good websites/contacts? or been to one of the 'Big Three' games in Portugal?

I've also looked at the Porto website and it seems to have the aids.

....Anywhoo...got back from Portugal last night...thanks for all the ticket advice ;)

As expected, it was no problem whatsoever getting tickets for Sporting v Academica. Got the metro down to the ground on the Saturday morning having arrived in Lisbon the previous night. Had a look round the outside of the ground and was suitably impressed. Strolled up to the ticket office and got two tickets for 25 Euros each. Tickets as it happened, which turned out to be pretty much the best in the house. Right on the half way line and about 15-20 rows back. Top drawer. The game was ok. Academica would walk all over Swindon (but then, who wouldn't?) Both sides had a goal disallowed before Sporting got a couple just before the break, both scored by some bloke called Yannick. The first a 25 yard screamer and the other a cheeky little lob over the keeper from 20 yards. He looks just the sort of player Wenger would sign for Arsenal, even though he has about 20 of them already i.e. small/very quick/very skilful. Second half was pretty meh! and there was no further scoring but it was a great experience nonetheless. The crowd was 'only' 24,000 odd in a 52,000 capacity stadium but it didn't look less than half full for some reason I can't quite fathom.

After a few more days in Lisbon (beautiful city BTW, well worth a visit) we got the train up to Porto (about 3 hours) for the big one. Again, the next morning we got the metro down to Estadio Dragao. After the mandatory wandering round the ground and the accompanying 'oohing and aahing' I simply strolled up to the ticket office where there was no queue and requested two tickets for the Porto v Sporting game. OK, so the equivalent seats to what we had in Lisbon would have been 60 Euros which I thought was a tad steep so I went for 44 Euro jobs in the corner. When we got in the ground on the Sunday night though, they were still absolutely brilliant seats. As it turned out, this was Porto's first game having clinched the Championship at Benfica a couple of weeks before so as you would expect, there was much fanfare and flag waving (and a few flares) and generally a pretty darned good, rousing, uplifting atmosphere (remember when you last felt that at a football ground?). Sporting were clearly not interested in joining the party and brought only about 1000 fans max (plus a few dotted around the stadium). The vast army of 'robo cop' policemen were only called into action once when the Sporting fans spilled out over on to the perimeter track. There was never any sign of trouble that I saw though. Which, being a serial coward, I was pretty happy about. The game itself was an absolute cracker jack with Porto, having initially falling behind, coming out on top 3-2. When you've been used to watching STFC for far too many years, the skill levels were, at times, breath taking. For Sporting, I was particularly impressed with the keeper, Rui Patricio, the Chilean midlfielder Matias Fernandes, Andre Santos and from the first game, Helder Postega (ex Spurs) as well as Yannick. Porto at times, when they really clicked were fantastic. In particular I liked the left back Álvaro Pereira who was slightly better than Michael Rose (OK, it's an unfair comparison, I know) The left winger Silvestre Varela was decent as was the no. 9 Falcao and the fantastically and entirely appropriately named 'Hulk'.

As I said, Porto is absolutely stunning. Easily the most picturesque European city I've been to (Lisbon's not a million miles behind though). So to conclude, if you're thinking of going to either of these places, then do it. You won't be disappointed. Wherever you go in Portugal and you want to go a game just go. You will have no problems getting in whatever the fixture and it should be a great experience even if it's one of the smaller clubs. Most of all though, at a time when I've lost all interest in the Premiership, would not watch England if they were playing in my back garden and don't even really want think about STFC, this experience showed me that I do still love the game after all. Happy days 8)

Sounds like you had a great time OST.

Great write-up! Did you take any pictures?

Yeah, they'd be worth 1000 of them words

Nice write-up from our very own Judith Charmers of the TEF!

Surely that would be bobsorange?

I will put a few photos up later...how do I do it though? I can't get stupid photobucket to work ::)

I'm off to Dortmund and Hamburg for the weekend (couldn't get tickets to St Pauli v Werder Bremen unfortunately). Full report coming soon.

Much as I would love to go to all the traditional massive venues around Europe like the Bernebau, San Siro etc and fully intend to get round them at some point, I have a real hankering to go to Dortmund. If I had the choice of one free football trip in Europe I think I would go there. St Pauli would be an interesting one as well though :hmmm:

I have been to an El Classico at the Bernabau, Was brilliant and Real won 4-1 which made for a raucous atmosphere. Nou Camp I was less impressed with but still highly impressive.

Unfortunately Dortmund are away this weekend, but hoping to do the tour of the ground. St Pauli v Bremen is a bit of a derby so could be an interesting atmosphere in the Rieperbahn.

I find the Bundesliga in general quite appealing. Decent grounds, decent crowds with good atmosphere and of course a reasonable standard of football.

I'm going to go next season I've just decided :hmmm:

Sod the pics, some paragraphs would be good !

You've got three..how many do you want ::) 8)

more than 3

Meh! I like it as it is 8)

I concur. Been to see PSV a few times as Eindhoven is fairly easy to get to and get tickets to the games. Still to go to a Bundesliga game but will definately make an effort next season. Hopefully Hearts are drawn with German opposition in the Europa league next season.

Here we go...some pre-match kicking around and cone gathering...

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The obligatory big massive fuck off flag/banner...

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And a shot of the waterfront area of Porto. No matter how many pictures I took I could not do it justice...

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Been to porto twice.  Did you go over the bridge to the port houses?

Lap it up that port!

Oh yes, we went to Crofts. I love the atmosphere as you walk around which is a combination of the port which has been maturing for years and old oak barrels. You can almost get pissed just breathing in the air. Beautiful.

We've got a couple of nice Tawnys and a Ruby just begging to be drunk. The Ruby is my personal favourite  :beers:

Wish i had known.....

Burmeister is the best by far...i did about 10 tours in the two visits.  Fucking right route march up the hill to find it....20 year old tawny my favourite!

I know what you mean. It's just as well Crofts was so well sign posted or we'd never have found it. 10 tours in 2 visits is going some. Are you some kind of Port tasting connoisseur type person or something?

Thats me!!

Come and see my recycling bin....embarrasment!