Lipsu LALIGA (2): Madrid the Capital of European Football

England may be known as the creator of modern football rules. However, Madrid will always be remembered as the capital of football. In this city, football is intertwined with the breath of its inhabitants. Many football clubs have flourished in Madrid. Through the vibrant football climate, Spain and Real Madrid have triumphed in Europe and the world. Prestigious trophies have alternately become the "inhabitants" of the City of Madrid.

Madrid is home to two major European football clubs, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. These two clubs from La Liga have played a significant role in elevating Madrid's name on the European stage. To date, no other city has sent representatives to the UEFA Champions League final as frequently as Madrid. The city rivals have met twice in the final, specifically in the 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 seasons.

Real emerged victorious in both finals. The two final matches were tense as the winners could not be determined within the normal time. The success of defeating Atletico twice in the finals paved the way for "El Real" as the team with the most Champions League titles, totaling 15 times.

No other club has ever won the Champions League trophy as many times as Real. The only city that comes close to Madrid's achievement in the Champions League is Milan, through AC Milan, which has been crowned champion seven times. This causes the city of Madrid to always come to mind for football fans whenever they hear about the Champions League.

In addition to its presence in Europe, Real has also elevated the city of Madrid significantly due to its achievement as the club with the most LALIGA titles, totaling 36 times. This achievement is beginning to be challenged by Barcelona, which represents the Catalan region with a collection of 28 LALIGA championship titles. This season, Barca has established itself as a strong competitor to Real after successfully securing its 28th title in LALIGA Spain.

Although they have just secured the LALIGA title, Barcelona's achievements still cannot match Madrid in Spain. This is because, in addition to Real, Atletico has also established itself as one of the most successful clubs in LALIGA.

Atletico has been recorded as having won the championship 11 times, making it the third club with the most LALIGA trophies. In total, the LALIGA trophy has "visited" the city of Madrid 47 times, counting the successes of Real and Atletico in winning the LALIGA.

This is Plaza Cibeles, the famous place where Real often celebrates its title wins.

So closely associated is the city of Madrid with football that it has indirectly encouraged UEFA to entrust the hosting of the Champions League final to the city on several occasions. Throughout its history, since 1955, Madrid has had the honor of hosting the final five times.

"The city of Madrid is synonymous with football. Without the fans, football would lack the lifeblood. They create a special atmosphere that enlivens every major event," said UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.

When visiting Madrid, tourists cannot miss two iconic places that are the center of football celebrations, namely Plaza Cibeles and the Neptune Fountain located in the heart of the city. These two locations serve as the celebration sites for the champions of Real and Atletico.

When Real wins the trophy, they will celebrate it at Plaza Cibeles. Conversely, Atletico will hold a victory parade at the Neptune Fountain. The two locations are only about 500 meters apart.

Due to Real's frequent victories in European trophies, the features of the statue of the Goddess Cibeles, the goddess of the earth or land in Greek mythology, are clearly etched in memory. The celebrations of Real's championships are often broadcast live from Plaza Cibeles, making it easy for us to remember this iconic location.

My first visit to Madrid was thanks to an invitation from LALIGA, and I was quite unfamiliar with everything in this city. During the journey from Adolfo Suárez Barajas Airport in the north of Madrid, the buildings on the right and left felt very foreign. However, not so with Plaza Cibeles. I could immediately recognize that location at a glance.

The driver who was taking me seemed to be able to read my thoughts. He noticed my serious expression as I observed Plaza Cibeles up close. At that moment, traffic at the Plaza Cibeles roundabout was somewhat congested, causing the car to stop near the statue.

"You seem to know this location. Yes, this is Plaza Cibeles, a famous place where Real often celebrates championship titles," said the driver, bringing me back from my daydream.

On the roadside, several tourists are photographing the Cibeles Fountain. They, like me, seem to be astonished by the beauty of the urban layout and the grandeur of the Cibeles Fountain amidst the bustling traffic. Or perhaps they simply want to experience the lively atmosphere there when Real celebrates a title.

In addition to Plaza Cibeles, other locations that are favorites among tourists in Madrid certainly include the home of Real, the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, and the home of Atletico, the Metropolitano Stadium. At these two stadiums, visitors can enjoy the grandeur as well as stadium tour packages.

Santiago Bernabeu and Metropolitano have become like temples of football in Madrid, where "pilgrims" perform rituals, admiring the two clubs that have contributed to elevating Madrid's name on the world stage.