“Where is Triana located?” asked a couple of Osasuna fans right next to the recreation area for the rojilla fans in the early hours of the morning. Right next to the Torre Sevilla, the city’s great skyscraper, thousands of Navarrese fans were arriving and little by little they were taking the pulse of the capital of Andalusia. From the so-called fan zone Located in Parque de Magallanes, on the banks of the Guadalquivir, Osasuna fans fanned out throughout the center of the city. Seville, taken over by nearly 2,000 members of the National Police and the Civil Guard, plus the Local Police, was invaded by a red tide, excited by the second Copa del Rey final that their team will play, who made themselves felt much more than the Madrid fans, calmer and much more scattered. On the night from Friday to Saturday, Navarrese fans began to enjoy themselves in areas of Nervión and the city center, also close to the river. Nightlife bars where the beer ran wild. This Saturday was a real gale.
A tide of Osasuna fans settled in the streets adjacent to the Seville Cathedral and the Giralda itself. You could not take a step through Mateos Gago, the artery that goes from the Cathedral itself to the typical Barrio de Santa Cruz, occupied by thousands of Navarrese fans. Some with a beret, others with the traditional red scarves and all, absolutely all, with their Osasuna shirt. With barely 20,000 members, the deployment of the Navarrese in Seville has been spectacular. “This is Estafeta on July 7”, affirmed the Osasuna fans, many of them very young. Not only did they occupy the center, but they were also seen in other emblematic locations in Seville such as the Plaza de España, built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, and the María Luisa Park that surrounds the square built by the architect Aníbal González, where For example, films such as the Star Wars either lawrence of arabia. The idea of the Navarrese was more or less clear. After taking the center and the Triana neighborhood, and with the Guadalquivir as the axis, it was necessary to finish off in the fan zone (two for one beer until four in the afternoon) and face the avenues of the Isla de la Cartuja in search of the stadium of the same name. “This looks like San Fermín”, they affirmed. The Seville City Council, which estimates a direct impact for the city thanks to this Cup final of around 50 million euros, set up buses for both fans to go to the stadium. Most chose, however, to walk. In Seville it was hot (30 degrees at five in the afternoon), but bearable. At least for the natives.
The fans of Madrid were arriving throughout Saturday. In general, much calmer, more professional, if the term fits, in enjoying events like the finals. The madridistas, who had their recreation area in the Parque del Alamillo, near the La Cartuja stadium, did make themselves very noticeable in the Alameda de Hércules. An open space in the north of the city center, close to the Macarena neighborhood, where there are a large number of bars, restaurants and breweries. Last year, it was the area chosen by Betis fans to warm up the 2022 final, won against Valencia in a penalty shootout. In streets like Feria, further away from the historic center, but also with a lot of tradition, the presence of numerous Madrid fans did attract attention.
Although spectators, the Sevillians are not completely oblivious to the result of the Cup final. Although many of the locals wished luck to the followers of the weakest team, Osasuna, and despite the fact that the Sevilla player is more against Madrid than they Betic is, a Madrid triumph would have consequences on the banks of the Guadalquivir. If Ancelotti’s men win the Cup, the sixth position in the League, now occupied by Betis, entitles them to play in the Europa League. At the same time, seventh place, to which a good number of teams can aspire, including Sevilla itself, would entitle them to play in the Conference League, the third continental tournament. Reflections alien to an exultant fans, the Navarrese, who flooded Seville, and another, Madrid, more accustomed to living finals. The most beautiful game of the year has a clear red color in Seville.
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