Spectator Sports in Madrid
Madrid is futbol (soccer) mad. While it has two passionately supported clubs, Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid, it is the latter who usually make the headlines, and almost invariably win the trophies. They have won the Copa del Ray, Spain's main competition, a record 20 times, and the European Cup, or Champions League, an astonishing 15 times. You’ll see their crown-topped logo all over the city: on TV screens in bars, on advertising hoardings, in expensive official sports shops, and in counterfeit versions offered by pavement hawkers.
Real Madrid’s home is the Santiago de Bernabéu stadium, north along the Paseo de la Castellana, a huge concrete cauldron which can hold more than 80,000 fans. Tickets for El Clásico, any game between Real Madrid and their archrivals Barcelona, are much harder to come by and can cost more than 500 euros. More practical for most visitors is a tour of the stadium, during which you can walk on the pitch where legends from Ferenc Puskás to Cristiano Ronaldo have performed, and marvel at the groaning trophy cabinets. Check the team's website for tour times and costs. Avenida de Concha Espina, 1. ; tel. 91-398-43-00. Metro: Santiago Bernabéu.
Basketball -- Basketball (baloncesto in Spanish) is almost as popular as fútbol all over Spain, and you can watch the sport in several locales throughout the city. The best is the 15,000-capacity Palacio Vistalegre stadium, Calle Utebo 1 (tel. 91-422-07-81; Metro: Vista Alegre), situated in the southwestern suburbs and rebuilt in 2000 over the old Plaza de Toros. It's still also a venue for bullfights as well as rock and opera concerts.
Horseracing -- The Hipódromo Madrid race course, Av. Padre Huidobro, Carretera de La Coruña A6 Km 8 (tel. 91-740-05-40; bus: 654, 655, or 658 from Moncloa bus station), also known as La Zarzuela, lies north of the city just past the elite sports complex of Puerta de Hierro. The racetrack is usually only open Sunday from 11am to 2pm, though in summer there are additional races at the same times, as well as occasional night races. The Hipódromo is closed in December. Check directly with the racetrack for relevant timetables during your visit.
