Soccer -- If you're a fan of English-style football, then the place to go is Santiago Bernabeu (Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Paseo de la Castellana 144; tel. 91-229-17-09; www.realmadrid.es), Madrid's largest stadium: total capacity 75,000 spectators. This is the home of Spain's most successful team Real Madrid, regarded by diehard fanatics as even more important than the Prado or Palacio Real. And whose host of charismatic international stars ranges from Brazil's Ronaldinho to Britain's Beckham. Tickets are 15€ to 80€ ($19-$100).
Basketball -- Basketball is almost as popular as soccer all over Spain, and there are several locales in the city where you watch the sport. Best is the 15,000-capacity Palacio Alegre stadium (Calle Utebo 1; tel. 91-422-07-81; www.palaceiovistaalegre.com), situated in the southwestern suburbs and rebuilt in 2000 over the old Plaza de Toros. It's also a venue for bullfights as well as rock and opera concerts.
Athletics -- Madrid's largest (20,000 capacity) athletic stadium, ambitiously aimed at expanding fourfold to host the 2012 Olympics (if its bid is successful), is the Estadio de la Comunidad de Madrid (Av. de Arcantales s/n; tel. 91-720-24-00). Located on the rapidly expanding eastern edge of the city, it features a variety of athletic events as well as periodic music shows.
