Europa League 2010/2011 (Final : Aviva Stadium, 18th May)

**DaveyCakes** · 11/05/2011, 1:31 PM

The UEFA Cup final a few years ago between Sevilla and Espanyol (at Hampden, which is a kip) was a great match.

**BonnieShels** · 13/05/2011, 12:19 PM

Hampden is easily the worst stadium I've ever been to. Even the glamour of Maradona's first game in charge of Argentina couldn't save it.

**DeLorean** · 13/05/2011, 1:09 PM

Looks ok on TV and in pictures, what's so bad about it? facilities, view, atmosphere, all of the above?

**DaveyCakes** · 14/05/2011, 3:31 PM

Crap view, ugly..

**BonnieShels** · 15/05/2011, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Looks ok on TV and in pictures, what's so bad about it? facilities, view, atmosphere, all of the above?

All of the above. There's nothing to write home about it at all. Even the cool fact that Queens Park have it as a home ground doesn't save it.

The atmosphere is dreary and the sound of a near full house doesn't travel as it should. A crock of a place.

**DeLorean** · 16/05/2011, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

I have to be honest, all credit to Braga, but Benfica - Porto is one of those classic European games (I want to say great European derby but 300km says its not really a derby)

Apparently Porto and Braga are only 47km's apart.

I have decided to go. I bought tickets for the Upper Tier East Stand for €50 off ticketmaster. Think I'm seated around the edge of the penalty box. I always prefer the upper tier anyway so I am delighted with these. The tickets two or three rows back from the pitch, very much to one side, are priced at €135. If anything it should be the other way around I think! There was no booking fee but there is a rather mental box office collection fee of €15. I'd like to see the justification for that, paying to go to the effort of collecting my own tickets! Anyway, I'm really looking forward to it now, just hoping to avoid driver fatigue on the way back.

**Closed Account 2** · 16/05/2011, 4:31 PM

I'm not sure if it's the case now, but certainly a few years ago Braga used to be Porto "B". This was mainly down to the fact they used to have many Porto reserves in their squad on loan. I think this has changed now since Boavista (anyone remember them and their boxed in stadium?) suffered a meltdown. Boavista were the send team in the city of Porto (they actually won the league in around 2001) but now their non-league so I think Braga might be more of a rival with Porto.

**Stuttgart88** · 16/05/2011, 6:30 PM

Mustn't be a sell out so. I hope the turnout doesn't embarrass us.

Kind of related, I find out today how many (if any) Olympic tickets I get. I applied for about 5k's worth!

**cornflakes** · 16/05/2011, 8:06 PM

You'd barely know the game was on, its seems our sports media is following its English counterparts in pretending the football world revolves around the EPL. Nothing new I suppose

**BonnieShels** · 16/05/2011, 8:13 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Mustn't be a sell out so. I hope the turnout doesn't embarrass us.

Kind of related, I find out today how many (if any) Olympic tickets I get. I applied for about 5k's worth!

Lies... today's the day they start taking money from accounts... as of now they haven't taken any from mine.

Speaking of which...

**DeLorean** · 17/05/2011, 8:56 AM

Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

Boavista (anyone remember them and their boxed in stadium?)

I remember their boxed jersey anyway. They played Celtic in the UEFA Cup semi final in 2003. Didn't realise they suffered a meltdown.

**tetsujin1979** · 17/05/2011, 9:22 AM

It's unfortunate that it's on the same week as the Queen's visit, which is taking the focus of the press away from the final

**BonnieShels** · 17/05/2011, 5:07 PM

Just passed lansdowne on the train. Serious amount of tv vans about.

**DaveyCakes** · 17/05/2011, 6:38 PM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Just passed lansdowne on the train. Serious amount of tv vans about.

You mean you just passed the Dublin Arena...tut tut!!

**passinginterest** · 17/05/2011, 8:13 PM

Getting a freebie, looking forward to it now, it should be a great experience. This Porto team has some great attacking players so with a bit of luck there'll be a few goals.

**BonnieShels** · 17/05/2011, 8:47 PM

Originally Posted by DaveyCakes

You mean you just passed the Dublin Arena...tut tut!!

I have yet to say the "A" word... I'm not reverting to that UEFA bull either.

Got home tonight and there's only 105.00 tickets left... Might check the scalpers after work.

**mypost** · 18/05/2011, 5:31 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

It's unfortunate that it's on the same week as the Queen's visit, which is taking the focus of the press away from the final

The problem is the lack of British club interest, not the small insignificant other hanging around with the national bill-signer for the week. Liverpool/manu sells copy here, Braga/Porto don't.