Has anyone attended a soccer game along the Camino Frances?

[mikebitton]

My sweetie and I will start our camino in Pamplona in early September, with hopes to arrive in Santiago by early October. I would love to experience a professional soccer (futbol) game in Spain, but it seems matches are played mostly on weekends. Has anyone on the forum attended futbol games in smaller towns along the camino?

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

if its professional, then your only chance is in pamplona. matches are played on saturday and sunday, with the occasional match on monday. google LIGA (Spanish professional football League) and check the calendar. The LIGA has just kicked off.

other cities and towns have their teams as well, but it's amateur or semiprofessional.

 

[bystander]

Soccer?
The camino?
I've been to more American football games in the US
than I have to soccer matches here in England!
So soccer in Spain?
Maybe
Who knows?

 

[madrid12]

All the bars usually have the daily sports papers, Marca and As, these list all the games so would give an idea what's on. Deffinitely worth going to if you get the chance.

 

[macao]

Along the Camino Frances there is no club playing in the highest division (Primera Division) but there are two Clubs playing in the Segunda Division. One Club is C.A. Osasuna http://www.osasuna.es/ and it is based in Pamplona.
The other team is called SD Ponferradina and is playing in Ponferrada.
Just ask the locals for further informations about football games in the towns along the camino.

Maybe after arriving in Santiago de Compostela you can think about visiting A Coruna or Vigo (not that far away from Santiago) by train or bus. They have clubs playing in the Primera Division.

 

[Dutch]

Soccer in Spain? I thought they banished that whole game and made it illegal after the humiliating 5-1 world cup defeat against.....yes....wait for it......the DUTCH

 

[TheTinkerBell]

I've been to a good few games on, or close to, the Camino - Pamplona (Osasuna), Bilbao, Lugo and A Coruna.
Unfortunately for you, Deportivo La Coruna are playing away from home around the time you finish. I've been in the Estadio Riazor many times in the last ten years and would highly recommend it to anyone. Great location right on the beach - although in October, it will be cold!!!
Lugo is a great little city and if you had time to take a little detour from the Camino, this is where you should think about.
Ponferradina and Celta Vigo - not for me!!!

I've searched and found these games on about the time you're on Camino. Hope they help!

Deportivo La Coruna v Almeria - 28th September
Burgos v Coruxo - 28th September
Lugo v Osasuna - 27th September @ 16.00 CET
Ponferradina v Albacete - 28th September
SD Compostela (Santiago) v Celta Vigo 'B' - 5th October

Don't know when in early September you're starting, but Osasuna v Alaves is on in Pamplona on 6th September @ 17.15 CET

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

Soccer in Spain? I thought they banished that whole game and made it illegal after the humiliating 5-0 world cup defeat against.....yes....wait for it......the DUTCH

ouch! that one hurt. however, spain has a little star on the jersey while the netherlands...

so when do we get a 'where can i see a bullfight on the camino' thread started?

 

[Dutch]

ouch! that one hurt. however, spain has a little star on the jersey while the netherlands...

While the Netherlands has a BIG SCARY LION on their jersey

 

[naplesdon]

You will be more entertained by finding a real "football match" between the Rugby teams in Pays Basque.

 

[GerryDel]

My sweetie and I will start our camino in Pamplona in early September, with hopes to arrive in Santiago by early October. I would love to experience a professional soccer (futbol) game in Spain, but it seems matches are played mostly on weekends. Has anyone on the forum attended futbol games in smaller towns along the camino?

Great idea. I wanted to take my son to a Real Madrid game, but we were walking in mid summer and they weren't playing.

 

[Theatregal]

Well...not a professional game but spent a really fun hour sitting in a square in Estella watching a very dramatic match between some young kids - girls and boys!

 

[Kanga]

I vote for pelota. Lots of courts along the route. In SJPDP they play pelota with bare hands every Monday.

 

[Ricay]

Soccer in Spain? I thought they banished that whole game and made it illegal after the humiliating 5-0 world cup defeat against.....yes....wait for it......the DUTCH

Get it right Dutch...it was 5-1....on a serious note we are travelling back from Bilbao mid september & I am planning to watch Dortmund V Arsenal in a sports bar somewhere in Bilbao on the 16.09.14....any suggestions for good sports bars in Bilbao ?

 

[Dutch]

Get it right Dutch...it was 5-1....on a serious note we are travelling back from Bilbao mid september & I am planning to watch Dortmund V Arsenal in a sports bar somewhere in Bilbao on the 16.09.14....any suggestions for good sports bars in Bilbao ?

Well, now thats how much i know about football its the win that counts, right ?

 

[Leaningforward]

Along the Camino Frances, no. I did attend a match in Porto, between Porto and the rival team from Lisbon. The stadium is easily accessible by rail.

 

[oursonpolaire]

Burgos and Leon have got what I am told are good student teams, and I've seen a great pick-up game out of Estella, and everyone seemed to have a good time; however, I'm one of these unreconstructed types who prefers amateur sports to professional sports.

 

[Ricay]

On the 16-9-14 the only colors you will see are red & white. Athletic Club will play at home against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Ondo Ibili !

Actually, Athletic Bilbao are playing Shakhtar Donetsk on the 17th September !!! And I am glad that the only colours I will see on the 16th will be Red & White....That's The Arsenal's colours....Up The Gunners.
Buen Camino

 

[Ricay]

@Ricay

Yes, you are right Athletic play on the 17th. Shame you´ll miss the atmosphere .

Ondo Ibili !

Well we travel home from Bilbao airport late in the evening on the 17th so we will catch a bit of the atmosphere.
Cheers

 

[GerryDel]

Get it right Dutch...it was 5-1....on a serious note we are travelling back from Bilbao mid september & I am planning to watch Dortmund V Arsenal in a sports bar somewhere in Bilbao on the 16.09.14....any suggestions for good sports bars in Bilbao ?

Go Gunners!

 

[robertt]

On the VF, I was there in Siena in 2009 on the day Siena beat Palermo. Worth it, for sure. On the CF in 2011, no matches in the flesh, but I joined the crowds in bars when Messi played. He's a transfixer, that Messi.

The Bierzo is a favourite part of the CF, mainly for the people. They seem to combine the best of French and Spanish heritage. I'd certainly like to see Ponferrada play at home - and win!