After having seen Real Madrid in action multiple times, I felt it was finally time to visit the city rivals, Atlético Madrid. I had seen them playing on Getafe a few days ago, but I had not yet visited their home ground. On November 26th, there was an absolute Champions League banger on the schedule against Internazionale, making the evening even more appealing. Inter had even been a finalist in the previous Champions League campaign. On the other hand, Atlético has a very good home record, having not lost a single match in front of their own crowd this season. One thing is for sure, it would be worth it to visit this encounter.
From my appartment in Madrid, it was surprisingly easy to reach the stadium: a quick ride on the metro and you’re at the Metropolitano. Once above ground, I was immediately overwhelmed. WHAT A STADIUM. Modern and imense. What stood out the most personally, was the massive number of food and drink options around the stadium. I had rarely seen such variety at a football venue. It’s a truly unique stadium, completely different from the Bernabéu. Both stadiums are remarkable in their own way.
Fans Who Make the Difference
Even before kickoff, it was clear that Atlético breathes a very different atmosphere compared to Real Madrid. The fans are louder, more passionate, and almost constantly engaged with their team. Where the atmosphere at Real sometimes feels a bit more controlled, Atlético is pure emotion. Songs, whistles, applause — it never stopped. The stadium was alive from the very start, creating an intense Champions League atmosphere. It almost felt like the match had begun before the first whistle.
Early Lead and an Open Game
The game started fiercely, with Inter immediately threatening through Dimarco and Lautaro Martínez, but Atlético goalkeeper Juan Musso was sharp from the outset. Just under ten minutes in, the stadium erupted: Julián Álvarez scored the 1–0 for Atlético. After a brief VAR check, the goal was confirmed, and the Metropolitano went completely wild.
Inter regrouped and stayed dangerous, especially through Barella and Dimarco. Both teams played physically and on a knife-edge, resulting in numerous fouls and stoppages. Yet the tempo remained high, and the fans got their money’s worth. Atlético went into halftime with a narrow lead. In my view, Inter was the better team but lacked the final pass; they forgot to reward themselves.
Second Half: Tension Until the Final Second
After the break, Inter came out strongly. Nicolò Barella even hit the crossbar shortly after the restart, a clear warning sign. In the 54th minute, Inter finally got what they deserved: Piotr Zieliński finished a beautiful attack to make it 1–1. The game was wide open again.
What followed was an intense second half with chances at both ends. Goalkeepers Sommer and Musso kept their teams in the game multiple times, while Atlético continued to press through Griezmann, Álvarez, and substitute Simeone. The tension was palpable in every action, every corner, and every duel.
An Explosion in Added Time
Just when it seemed everyone had settled for a draw, Atlético struck. In the 93rd minute, icon Antoine Griezmann delivered a perfect corner into the box, where José María Giménez rose and headed it home. 2–1. The stadium literally exploded. Pure madness, pure Atlético. The goal was scored by two absolute legends of the Madrid club.
Closing the Night the Right Way
After the final whistle, everyone headed for the metro. It was packed to the brim, but nobody seemed to mind. With wide smiles, sore throats, and hoarse voices, everyone made their way home.
This was everything a Champions League night should be. It was intense, loud, emotional and decisive until the very last moment.
A successful evening and an impressive first encounter with Atlético Madrid in their own home. They will definitely see me back there again.
