Three Cathedrals Of Football

Since our first game against Reykjavik in 1964 we’ve played teams from most of the 50 countries that make up Europe, which got me thinking what are the best stadiums and cities I’ve visited while following the Liverbird? The three I have chosen are considered to be the real cathedrals of football and some of the most difficult to get a result in, we’ve managed to get a win in all three in recent years… as the banner said “Them Scousers Again”.

Camp Nou

Barcelona 1:2 Liverpool – Deco, Craig Bellamy, John Arne Riise

Champions League Last 16, 1st Leg

Visited: 21st February 2007

From main station: Metro, five minutes on L5 from Sants Estacio to Collblanc

Camp Nou is the largest football stadium in Europe and home to FC Barcelona. It has a capacity of 99,354 seats. FC Barcelona, the proud visualisation of everything that is Catalan, like to say that they are ‘mès que un club’ (more than a club). Their home trounces any other in Europe for size. On a summer’s night, with the lights of the city twinkling behind spectators and the players mere specks on the far-off playing pitch, you certainly feel the expansiveness.

The City of Barcelona

There are bigger, grander, posher cities in Europe. It may not share the profile of a London, New York or Paris. But I've yet to find a place that packs so much into such a small space. There's attractions galore. Something for you whether you're sports mad, a culture vulture or just like sitting a Spanish street watching the world go by. It's great for a weekend but you can spend a week here, no problem. Throw in a world standard football team and the most famous half-built cathedral in the world, and you surely can't go far wrong. But perhaps the real magic of Barcelona is that it's a city you can wander and endlessly discover. The Ramblas, the long straight bustling tourist thoroughfare stretching down to the harbour, may well be where your holiday begins - but Barcelona is far more than just those bird sellers, actors and endless street bars. It is a people's city, a working class city. Madrid oozes class and sophistication but Barca is all grit and pride. Scrape below the tourist hype and you'll find a slice of real urban Spain. The more you explore it, the more you will enjoy it.

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza

Internazionale 0:1 Liverpool - Fernando Torres

Champions League Last 16, 2nd Leg

Visited: 11th March 2008

From main station: From Milano Centrale, Milano Porta Garibaldi and Milano Lambrate stations take underground line 2 (MM2 direction Abbiategrasso), change at Cadorna FN metro station, take underground line 1 (MM1 direction Rho-Fiera) and get off at Lotto metro station. From Milano Porta Genova station, take underground line 2 (MM2 direction Cologno/Gessate), change at Cadorna FN metro station, then take underground line 1 (MM1 direction Rho-Fiera), and get off at Lotto metro station.

Stadio Guiseppe Meazza, is the home of Milan clubs AC Milan and FC Internazionale.The stadium has a capacity of 80,018 seats. Better known as the ‘San Siro’ after the district where it sits like a hulking UFO, the Giuseppe Meazza is the pick of Italian calcio stadiums. The San Siro makes for a unique cauldron for the weekly dramas that dictate the lives of tifosi (fans) of both teams. Match day here is like an oversized Verdi opera production, with a colourful cast of thousands, carefully choreographed displays of support, and heroes and villains on both sides.

The City of Milan

Milan. Think high fashion. High class handbags. Cutting edge clothes. Grand. Expensive. Very expensive. Those were the words that sprang into my head when I jetted off to the unofficial, self-proclaimed capital of northern Italy. And at first glance, much of the above can be said to be true. A shoppers' paradise with classic architecture to boot - and yes, in the wrong places it can puncture a very large hole in the wallet. But if you can take a walk away from the heavily touristy areas and there is much more to this city. There are definitely districts worth a wander, most within walking distance of the middle. And you're rarely far from a place to linger for a drink or a pizza, if you don't mind the price. The best place to start is at the Duomo. It's Milan's big cathedral, a quite outstanding building that's in the heart of the city. Take a wander inside - and, if it's a clear day head to the rooftop terrace for a view as far as the Alps. It's free to wander inside and take a look, with a charge for the rooftop.  In front of the cathedral is Piazza del Duomo, an open square where tourists can run the gauntlet of some of the more persistent hawkers I’ve had the displeasure of encountering. Even if you're not a big shopper, you need to take a look inside the Galleria, Italy's first and probably most famous shopping arcade. Manchester Arndale it is not. With the Duomo in front of you, the arcade is off to the left. The glorious interior, from ceiling to floor, are as big an attraction as the items in the stores themselves. And that's saying something. It's a who's who of the biggest names in world fashion. Head to the middle and you have four classic names, one in each corner. Prada, Bernasconi, Louis Vuitton… and… wait for it… a McDonalds. The big yellow arches have reached here - although in deference to the surroundings they're not quite as big, or yellow. Continue through the arcade and out the other side where you arrive in Piazza de la Scala, home of the La Scala opera house. Now to those in the opera know, this is the home of opera. This is the very heart of Milan, which with its classical feel is host to dozens of galleries and museums, too many to list here. Although special mention needs to go to Leonardo de Vinci's The Last Supper, one of the world's most famous paintings, which can be found at Santa Maria dell Grazie. Maybe Milan isn't the most Italian of Italian cities. It does have its rich side, maybe even appear initially a little aloof but cut through some first impressions and I have to say the welcome was as warm as anywhere.

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

Real Madrid 0:1 Liverpool - Yossi Benayoun

Champions League Last 16, 1st Leg

Visited: 25th February 2009

From main station: Metro, Line 1 to Tribunal, then Line 10 to Santiago Bernabeu

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is the third largest stadium of Europe and home to Real Madrid CF. It currently has a capacity of 85,454 seats. You need to come to the Bernabéu twice. Come once to approach it at leisure, circumnavigate the towering stadium and tour Real Madrid’s superb museum. Like many clubs, Real Madrid boast that they are by far the greatest team the world has ever seen. Unlike anyone else, they’ve got nine European Cups on display in the museum to prove their credentials. Come back for a match, preferably an evening game against deadly rivals Barcelona, when it feels like the crowd are about to topple onto the pitch and the noise is deafening. A blasting from the heaters, which keep fans rugged up against the chilly Madrid winter nights, is quite an experience, too.

The City of Madrid

Whereas Barcelona clearly has no time for Madrid, the Spanish capital gives the distinct impression of looking down its nose at its Catalan neighbour. Madrid is a wealthy, sophisticated city. It oozes style and class through its buildings and its people. Classic buildings line the wide tree lined avenues as you head into the city. It sees itself as more sophisticated than the rest of Spain, a city of finance, business, the classics and money, with traditional tapas bars on ever corner. At its heart is the Plaza Mayor. In years gone by the courtyard hosted bullfighting. Now its grand setting has made way to continental street cafes. It's the ultimate meeting point with street entertainers and artists ready to draw your portrait - if it takes your fancy. The grandest building in town is the Palacio Real, a magnificent palace home to hundreds of rooms which you can pay a visit to. It's an official residence of the King of Spain who doesn't live there but is a frequent host for ceremonial events. One definite highlight - and it's free - is a weekend walk in the park. Of a weekend, the people of Madrid flock to Parque del Beun Retiro, directly behind the Prado museum. It's a vast park but full of life at the weekends when there's street entertainers, stalls and more around the central boating lake. There's even a few cafes and bars well worth stopping at and watching the world go by. Hop off metro stop Retiro - alternatively it's a 30 minute walk from Sol. scratch the cities surface and you will be charmed by its friendliness, laid back feel - and of course, its football. A lot of the magic can be found in the districts you stumble upon. The restaurants of the Cortes area to the east of Sol busy all day and most of the night to name but one, a contrast to the more touristy and at times seedy parts of Gran Via. Late into the night, locals and tourists are wandering the streets - Madrid doesn't shut early.

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