Travel

• Match: VfB Stuttgart vs. Atlético de Madrid
• Location: Stuttgart, Germany

Monday: Meet & Greet, Reunions, and Gala Dinner

The trip kicked off on Monday with the arrival of the first fan club members in Stuttgart, full of excitement for what was to come. The highlight of the day was the exclusive Meet & Greet held at the team hotel, where 10 lucky members of our peña had the opportunity to meet Dávid Hancko and Marc Pubill in person. It was an unforgettable encounter, filled with laughter, hugs, and even a few emotional kisses!

There are trips you take to fulfill a commitment, and then there are those that are forever etched into your soul. What we experienced last Saturday at the IX Anniversary of Peña Atlética Castañera in Castañar de Ibor undoubtedly belongs to the second kind.

From the very first moment, they took care of absolutely everything, looking after every single detail of our trip and the hotel, constantly keeping an eye out for us. We found a fan club that is incredibly tight-knit, filled with wonderful, genuine people whose hospitality is the kind you only receive from truly authentic, salt-of-the-earth people. When I accidentally met them three years ago in Guadalupe (also partying, of course!), I already sensed that this fan club was different. That’s why I didn’t hesitate for a second to dedicate a whole chapter to them in the book. And time has proven me right: the club is growing non-stop, and it’s all thanks to their hard work and the power of their community. We had the honor of presenting Merece la peña in a place that actually has its very own chapter written in gold within the book. The welcome couldn’t have been more beautiful, warm, and respectful.

What a night it was! I still have goosebumps and my heart is racing. Being in a Champions League semi-final is that dream we keep dreaming and, above all, keep believing in with all our soul.

The trip from León was an absolute luxury. Traveling on the coach with the folks from the Nunca dejes de creer and Furia Leonesa fan clubs is a whole different story; you forget about the exhaustion of driving and, most importantly, the nightmare of finding a parking spot. They drop you right there, you gather with your people, and you just enjoy. Plus, we had a special expedition: Hooliana didn’t want to miss the date. I headed straight to the singing stand (grada de animación), but my dear Shiyau, her adoptive mother, took charge of the “secret operation” to get her into the stadium and pamper her so she’d “take the bait”… and boy, did she! Just in time to see Julián’s goal.

What began as an expedition fueled by faith from the Peña Atlética de Alemania ended up being a true ordeal that we wouldn’t wish upon our worst enemy. We landed in Faro on Friday the 17th with suitcases full of scarves and our voices ready, but little did we know that Saturday in Seville held a survival obstacle course designed by the enemy. We parked near La Cartuja, and right there, the football ended to make way for third-world conditions.

Another trip to London was on the agenda, so I headed to Heathrow on Tuesday full of confidence. A journey with Deutsche Bahn always holds surprises—and this time was no different: I just barely caught my early-booked train, which eventually arrived in Frankfurt with a one-hour delay. There was just enough time for the security checks and a quick “cold one” before jumping on the plane.

Arriving in London on time with the best possible weather, I checked into the hotel quickly and set off to pick up the tickets. I already ran into the first familiar Atleti there (well, you get recognized these days as a frequent traveler of the German fan club 😊). With ticket and wristband in hand, I took the Tube two stops to the world’s first Hard Rock Café (est. 1971) in Green Park Lane. After a good meal and a few pints, I walked back to the hotel.