ROJIBLANCO ADVENTURES IN BRUGES: BAD LUCK, SNOW AND CHOCOLATE

Carmen

February 20, 2026

ROJIBLANCO ADVENTURES IN BRUGES: BAD LUCK, SNOW AND CHOCOLATE

Yesterday it was time for a rojiblanco adventure: Bruges awaited us for the legendary Club Brugge–Atlético match. Yes, that stadium with bad luck where we’ve never won. From Peña Atlética Germany, we set off by car, loaded with coffee, excitement, and a GPS or two that decided to play its own game.

The official pre-game promised little… but as always, we Rojiblancos improvised. In the visitor parking lot, a spontaneous pre-game formed with the fan buses arriving: chants, photos, greetings, and the classic attempt to coordinate a choreo that ended up being improvised. That’s when the true rojiblanco spirit was felt.

Something completely unprecedented happened in our Peña: three people couldn’t make it for different reasons! But you know what? Those of us who went shouted, sang, and cheered even louder—you could probably hear us all the way to the center of Bruges.

Bruges is always amazing: the smell of waffles and chocolate, the canals, buildings like a fairytale… and I thought, “Even if we lose, this is already worth it.”

The march to the shuttle buses was short but dramatic: our bus got a flat tire. Yes, flat. Emergency bus change and an extra dose of adrenaline to start the day.

Entry into the stadium: orderly, good number of visitors… but the stadium itself… well, authentic. Dirty, stands that made you feel like an Olympic acrobat, and of course the ever-present bad luck lurking around every corner.

The highlight of the day: I ran into readers of my book in the stands looking for me to sign their copies. One even admitted they had been reading it without knowing who I was. Total pride. I almost forgot about the match… almost.

The match… well, crappy result: 3–3. Once again, the curse of Bruges reminded us that football isn’t always fair.

After the match: sleet, cold, endless wait for the shuttle… and the drive home around 5 a.m., with snow and storm along the way. Half-singing the anthems to stay awake, juggling jacket, coffee, and dignity.

But you know what? It’s all worth it. Things we do for Atlético: improvised trips, cold, mud, sleet, and broken buses included. For the passion, for the friends, for the Peña… and for all the stories we’ll tell a thousand times.

Bruges, bad luck or not, is always worth it. And we… we remain Atlético, no matter what happens.