A DOUBLE VICTORY IN PRAGUE

There are blogs, vlogs, and other nonsense meant to replace the travel chronicles of those who truly travel. Because no one will ever understand what it means to follow Atlético Madrid if they prefer to try the local cuisine instead of mingling with the fans, take a car or public transport instead of joining the fan march and singing at the top of their lungs, and when they don’t fully immerse themselves in the red-and-white passion with everything it entails.

For those of us who always travel with the Peña Atlética de Alemania, there’s no need to explain what it means to follow Atleti. The joy starts weeks ahead as we plan the trip together, book flights and hotels, check train schedules, and connect with other Atleti peñas before heading out.

This year’s Champions League group stage offers some very attractive cities to visit: Lisbon, Paris, Prague, and Salzburg. We had already checked the first two off the list, so now it was time for Prague. Many of our members decided to combine sightseeing with rojiblanca passion, preparing their trips from various parts of Germany, Spain, Austria, and Switzerland—a testament to the geographical diversity of our peña. Joining us for the second time was Juliana, our talismanic spider mascot, who has already logged quite a few miles, including a recent trip to Paris.

Six of us decided to set off from Cologne in our beloved BlueBus, which has accompanied us on so many journeys. On Monday, the day before the match, we met early in the morning to reach Prague in time to settle in before the planned dinner with other peñas.

Most of us arrived on Monday, so a meet-up was inevitable. We strolled through the beautiful city, pausing now and then to enjoy the wonderful beer and breathtaking views as we crossed the bridge. Our friendships with so many other peñas led us to make a reservation at a traditional local restaurant, U Glaubicu, where we were lucky to have a very patient waitress named Katka. Despite the number of reservations falling short of the number of attendees, she always managed to find room for those arriving later.

There, members of the Peña Atlética de Alemania, the Peña Atlética Frente de Liberación Panadero Díaz from Brussels, Peña Polonia, and Indios de Caledonia gathered, along with a few scattered fans who joined us and decided then and there to become official members of our peña.

There’s nothing better than a rojiblanca gathering with good food and beer (which often leads to shots). There were laughs, countless photos, shared memories, future plans, and, of course, songs dedicated to our Atleti. That night, Pedro became my personal hero when I saw him down a shot of absinthe as if it were grape juice. My respects!

Since many of us were staying at the same hotel, the walk back after dinner was lively, though it took longer than usual due to numerous stops. Still, we had to get to bed early as the following day would be all about Atleti.

After a hearty breakfast, we took a walk through the city toward the eFotbal Arena, where the Youth League match between Sparta Praha and Atlético de Madrid was being held. Fourteen of us showed up to cheer on Atleti’s youngsters because, in this peña, we believe they deserve our support and chants too. The Atlético Madrid youth team achieved an important victory on their visit to the Czech Republic in the 5th round of the Youth League, and we thoroughly enjoyed watching them play. The first win of the day was in the bag.

The Champions League match was scheduled unusually early at 6:45 p.m. This gave us just enough time to briefly return to the hotel before heading to the fan zone at one of the city’s iconic spots: Old Town Square. Hundreds of colchoneros gathered there to sing, drink, and cheer for Atleti in front of the world-famous Astronomical Clock. The clock had never sounded better, with Atleti’s anthem playing in the background.

At 4:30 p.m., we began the fan march to the stadium. During the march, Atleti fans competed with Prague’s famous landmarks—Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, the Old Jewish Cemetery, Old Town Square—but without a doubt, our Juliana was the star of the show. Everyone wanted a photo with her, showing off her new rojiblanca scarf as she accompanied us on our pilgrimage through the streets to the Epet Arena, where the match was to be held.

Anyone who skips the fan march misses out on unforgettable moments, reunions with friends from other peñas, countless anecdotes, and thousands of hugs among fans eagerly anticipating the match. We arrived exhausted after a longer-than-expected march, climbing hills and stairs non-stop. Although we enjoyed the best views of Prague, the fatigue was palpable as we approached the stadium gates.

Hundreds of rojiblanco fans were waiting to enter, and I couldn’t help but think of those who, due to an incomprehensible sanction, had to watch the match on screens at home or in a bar in Prague. Despite this, they traveled without tickets, using their flight and hotel bookings just to accompany Atleti. Kudos to those fans who never leave the team unsupported.

The visitors’ section was unusually packed; there was barely any room, and some had to stand on the seats, making visibility quite difficult.

Atlético de Madrid presented a different lineup than we were used to, intent on winning the match from the first minute. Sparta Praha, as expected, tried to impose their style of play and create chances early on. However, Atleti’s strong performance on the field prevented the Czech team from posing any real threat to Oblak’s goal, which remained unchallenged.

We knew beforehand that the spider would bite, and we were right. A brace from Julián Álvarez (which made our Juliana dance), alongside goals from Ángel Correa, Marcos Llorente, and Griezmann, boosted our goal difference (+2) and left us just one point away from direct qualification to the Round of 16. Our second victory of the day was secured—our personal double.

We had plenty to celebrate, so we quickly headed to the city center, this time taking shortcuts and ravenous for a meal as satisfying as the victory we had just witnessed.

It’s hard to find an open spot at that hour, but we were lucky to discover a place (on a recommendation from a closing restaurant) and enjoy a delicious dinner alongside some displaced fans who had watched the match there. We shared heartfelt goal celebrations (or six, to be exact), drank beers, and analyzed the game. Between pints, we also watched Feyenoord’s epic comeback against Manchester City, which apparently caused Guardiola’s famous head injuries the next day.

Little by little, we retired for the night; some had early flights, and others were simply worn out by the day’s emotions. The only one who stood strong and uncomplaining was Juliana, enduring hundreds of photos, videos, pats, and compliments. She remains as beautiful and ready as ever to strike again, having become our peña’s talismanic mascot.

The next day, we set off for home without any issues. We picked up our BlueBus from the hotel’s adjacent parking lot, where a Sparta fan jokingly asked for 500 crowns as compensation for the flood of goals he’d witnessed the night before. Laughing, he returned our vehicle, and we departed.

At the German border, we were flagged down by a customs inspection van and led to a hangar for a vehicle check. To our surprise, two of our companions, Thomas and his father Peter, turned out to know the German customs officers, as they were also customs officials at the airport. While the Czech officers thoroughly inspected our vehicle (with their dog even drooling on Juliana), the German officers sat with us to chat about football and other shared interests. If we had suggested it, they probably would have joined us for a beer, and if sausages had been on hand, they might have fired up a grill to eat together. Instead, we simply handed out some business cards for our peña.

We returned home safe and sound, albeit tired, with two important victories under our belts and eager to continue in the competition. And, of course, with Juliana by our side.

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