San Mames stadium (Bilbao)

[bflefc]

Having a long weekend with my bird here in Bilbao, and we managed to snaffle a pair of tickets for Athletic Bilbao v Real Mallorca yesterday. It's the penultimate match at the San Mames before Athletic move next door (literally) into a new ground. It looks exactly like the Emirates, which is boring.

But the San Mames was fantastic. I've seen it being called The Cathedral and its deffo worthy of that name. Crackling atmosphere, really tight and compact and the locals are bang into their football. Some Spanish clubs are like libraries, but Bilbao was top notch.

I'm glad I managed to get it under my belt before it gets bulldozed forever next month. It's a shame that places like this are getting replaced by identikit glossy arenas.

For the match record, Bilbao laboured to a 2-1 win which relegated Mallorca. They looked a shadow of the side Bielsa had firing on all cylinders during the past year or two. It might be that their forward line were truly gash, as they missed a fair few chances when it looked easier to score.

Oh, and Bilbao is a top place. Dead quirky sights and architecture. Off to the Guggenheim today then tapas in the old town tonight. San Sebastián tomorrow (Real Sociedad at home at 10pm ).

 

[Muggins]

Fantastic stuff mate. I was in Bilbao at the end of January and saw Athletic stuff Atletico Madrid 3-0. Amazing night that.

I saw the new San Mames being built next to it and was so glad they hadn't knocked the old one down just yet. Honestly reckon San Mames is the Spanish Goodison. Proper stadium and proper club.

I've got some ace pictures ill post when I can.

Bilbao is a great place though, I agree. The Guggenheim is quality and the old town Casco Viejo is ace with its tight streets. Went there on a Saturday night and the entire old town was rammed with people eating tapas.

If you get chance for a pizza though, look up La Tagliatelli.

http://www.latagliatella.es/eng/latagliatella-bilbao-gardoki

Quality.

 

[Muggins]

San Mames.

The bloke with the brolly was on top form.

 

[ijjysmith]

Looks a little like Goodison that.

Played boys.

 

[tsubaki]

Bilbao is ace, but San Sebastian is much nicer.

 

[Muggins]

Bilbao is ace, but San Sebastian is much nicer.

I'd love to go there. I think San Sebastián has a beach front, whereas Bilbao is slightly more inland down the river. There's defo the basque feel in northern Spain. I got the feeling they actually don't mind the English...

 

[Bedfordshiretoffee]

And I found an Evertonian

I also went to that Bilbao v Ath Madrid game. Stadium so much like Goodison and the atmosphere was amazing.
At half time bloke next to me pulled out the sharpest, biggest knife you have ever seen and started to cut up some bread, make sarnies and dished them out to his mates.
Anyway, to top a top night, couple in front of us, two Spaniards, asked me to take a picture of them, we got chatting and the bloke was so excited that we supported Everton - just like he did. I am Everton, he proudly and excitedly announced. Thepeople's club lives on in Bilbao, probably down to the time Howie was there.

 

[Julian Carax]

Enjoy San Sebastián man, best food in Spain.

 

[bflefc]

San Sebastián was ace, really, really was. Superb city with stunning beaches.

The match last night was also decent. Real Sociedad fans don't half like whining at every decision and despite the running track it was a good old noisy atmosphere in there.

 

[Bedfordshiretoffee]

How much were the tickets, and did you get the train from Bilabo?

 

[Jamo Martinez]

My best mate over here is from Bilbao. Haven't made it up there yet myself. Defo on my list. Gutted not to have been able to sample the atmosphere at 'La Catedral'. More of an English style stadium. Good fans too.

Apart from the obvious of losing Javi Martinez (who any team would miss) and to all intents and purposes losing Llorente, I don't know what's gone wrong with the team. Aduriz has come in and done well but at 31 he's obviously a stop gap.

 

[bflefc]

How much were the tickets, and did you get the train from Bilabo?

We paid €38 each (face value) in Bilbao, and €20 each at Sociedad.

 

[Muggins]

My best mate over here is from Bilbao. Haven't made it up there yet myself. Defo on my list. Gutted not to have been able to sample the atmosphere at 'La Catedral'. More of an English style stadium. Good fans too.

Apart from the obvious of losing Javi Martinez (who any team would miss) and to all intents and purposes losing Llorente, I don't know what's gone wrong with the team. Aduriz has come in and done well but at 31 he's obviously a stop gap.

I get the feeling they let Llorente and Martinez go for big money to contribute to the cost of the stadium and basically rebuild the squad. Bilbao finished 14th this season I think. Seems they've fallen a long way since getting to the Europa League Final...Still an ace team and ace place though...

 

[tsubaki]

My best mate over here is from Bilbao. Haven't made it up there yet myself. Defo on my list. Gutted not to have been able to sample the atmosphere at 'La Catedral'. More of an English style stadium. Good fans too.

Apart from the obvious of losing Javi Martinez (who any team would miss) and to all intents and purposes losing Llorente, I don't know what's gone wrong with the team. Aduriz has come in and done well but at 31 he's obviously a stop gap.

I blame Bielsa - you lose the team like he apparently did at the end of last season, dont rebuild any kind of relationship with it and this is the type of season that can result. How he is still in a job is astonishing, even without Martinez and with a disinterested Llorente they should be much higher up that table than they are.

 

[Muggins]

I blame Bielsa - you lose the team like he apparently did at the end of last season, dont rebuild any kind of relationship with it and this is the type of season that can result. How he is still in a job is astonishing, even without Martinez and with a disinterested Llorente they should be much higher up that table than they are.

They were superb against Atletico, fast fluid football, skill, touch. I couldn't believe that after that match they never kicked on..