The referee whistles for three consecutive times in Paris, Madrid is champion for the fourteenth time in its history. The game ends on the field and another begins in the Spanish capital. The party is uncontrolled: fly as much as possible, hugs, kisses, scarves and flags. People who cry, children who make a video call with their parents from the Santiago Bernabéu. The excitement builds and everyone wears white tonight. The party has just started, the chants continue outside (Mbappé is the most invoked), the atmosphere is that of great occasions and the air that is breathed has a unique, almost familiar sensation. The path has already been decided: four kilometers, all straight, crossing the Castellana and reaching Cibeles, where they celebrate.
It is not yet known if the team will arrive or not, but this does not matter, we must celebrate the victory. Fact: there is beer everywhere.
During the journey, the Madrid fans hug each other in a single white wave. People and stories intersect, like that of Majiad and Sudhi, a Syrian couple who escaped from the war years ago and, now, have come from Germany only to attend the game. Football is what unites in these cases and so it continues until reaching Cibeles. Liters of beer lost on the street. Many people come from all over the world to attend this show: the proof is Bruno and Bernard, two Brazilian boys who came to Madrid on vacation to attend the Santiago Bernabéu event. Street food vendors are improvised along the route so that the kilometers are not so heavy. There are those who eat a hamburger, there are those who eat potatoes, there are those who only share beer and victory.
250 police officers surround the area and register one by one each person who wants access. There is no need to intervene, there are no bad intentions, just a great desire to celebrate the ‘Kings of Europe’. Once arrived at the center of the party, the delirium is complete. Songs, dances and flares reign the situation. Police vans with their blue sirens help Madrid to shine on a pristine night, like the victory in Paris. The news of the arrival of the team tomorrow arrives, but this does not dampen the spirits of the madridistas who, galvanized by the situation, continue to shout and celebrate: the night is wild.
The party continues, it empties and the police vans begin to drive away the few “guerrillas” who still remained in the square. “We have to assemble and prepare for tomorrow” says one of them inviting us to leave the area. While everything returns to its origin, one of the most agitated groups of the night continues in the vicinity. Among them is Esteban, a boy from Cádiz who tells us about his ‘crazy adventure’. A van full of hope, children and beers began a journey from Espera, a town of 4,000 inhabitants, to go to the Bernabéu in the morning. 40 people in love with the Madrid club who will have to return at 11 o’clock tomorrow because they will have to work on Monday. But as Esteban said, “it was worth it.” How am I not going to love you…
