European Football Matches???

sundin13

Can anyone recommend a European footie match for me to send hubby to for a xmas present. Somewhere that Ryanair or Easyjet can get to with just an overnight stay...(from L'pool probably)

The most awkward bit is the timing - it needs to be a midweek game during school holidays if possible, as weekends and term time are really awkward.

Suggestions gratefully received...

S13

boobless

hi

you cannot beat a trip to the nou camp stadium, barcelona, it is spectacular, check out the fc barcelona web site for match dates, before the game make sure he does the stadium and museum tour only costs about £8, easyjet do the cheapest flights, also check hotel nh rallye its only 2 mins walk from stadium, get some good deals if you hunt round - promise he will not be disappointed

herman2811

Can't argue with the above! But whichever team you choose, I'd recommend buying tickets direct from their own websites rather than through third parties.... much cheaper!

But yeah, the Nou Camp is amazing!

Bigtimer01

i can vouch for the above, every football loving crazy guy in england would advise you the same, the stadium is fab the team is fantastic, and the city is superb. you can find loads of cheap accomodation in barca, this is definately the best place in europe

blue_haddock

For a great atmosphere, cheap beer and a good time i recommend slavia prague - one of the best foreign footy matches i've been to see.

dunx

All good advice (and no-one has mentioned Italy yet). Check the fixtures for all European leagues, well the main ones, on the BBC website - follow links to Sport, Football, Europe.

markwi

milan for a champions league game is also an option,ryanair from liverpool

SimonW

There is also Madrid to see Real Madrid or Paris for a Paris St Germain game.

But I'd agree with the above...Barcelona for the Nou Camp alone!

fatboyonadiet

Italian fixture list:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/italy_results/fixtures/default.stm

Spanish fixture list:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/spain_results/fixtures/default.stm

Nou Camp any day, booked an apartment from www.rent4days.com when we went and flew with EasyJet.

dixie_dean_2

As an extra or standby second choice a trip to see his own team and do the stadium tour and a hotel is really good. I did the tours at Barcelona and Real Madrid and Everton all in about a month in 2004 and the latter was part of a surprise from my girlfriend and I can honestly say Everton was the highlight. Its all very well looking at European Cups but what price standing next to David Weir's shirt in the home dressing room? Sadly, I'm not even joking.

parkside_stroller

With regard to FC Barcelona matches - I have bought tickets outside stadium from touts on day of match. Mark up was only about £5 and I've been led to believe it is possible to get them for all but the biggest matches (Don't try and do it for Barca V Real Madrid).

I believe it is only possible to get tickets in advance if you are a club member so you might want to go to the stadium early in day if you want to buy direct from ticket office.

Often it is cup matches rather than league matches which are played on weekdays but if it doesn't come too soon, there is a league match on Thursday 21st December at 10pm against Athletico Madrid (I'm considering that myself).

A note of caution if you use Ryanair - They use Reus and Girona airports to serve Barcelona. I'm not sure just how long it takes to travel from Girona (but you can find out by checking bus times from Ryanair website) but it is 1 and a half hours drive from Reus to Barcelona by car.

I got caught out at end of November as they moved Kick Off to the Saturday (for TV) and I only found out 30 minutes before KO (I was in Salou near Reus at the time). I also met a family who had travelled for the match and they had similar thing. It was changed within 2 weeks of their flight it seems.
With Ryanair to get best deals you may have to book more than 2 weeks before flight to get best deals. Perhaps less likely to move KO for weekday matches particularly if it is Champions League.

Easyjet fly to Barcelona proper. Flight details for 21st December are currently Dep 07.00 arr 10.25 and you can return either 11.00 or 21.25 departure next day. Price if you take later flight is currently £83 each inc tax