In case you did not know, I am a Real Madrid fan, a Madridista. I figured I would mention it now that we are starting the Champions League knock out stage. Our first game will be against Liverpool, whom we beat for the title in 2018 and 2022!! So, as much as I want to win, I have to be realistic and understand how hard it is to win back-to-back Champions League titles (or anything for that matter…).  But that, as you would expect, does not dampen one iota my love for Real Madrid.

My dad would occasionally take me to Bernabeu Stadium when I was a child to see games, and then whenever I could snag tickets I would go. So, I cannot say that I go to every game -something particularly difficult when one lives abroad- but I still consider myself a fan and try to go whenever possible. For a time, my sister worked at Marca, the biggest sport (read soccer) newspaper in Spain, and she would often end up with free tickets!

Lucky for me, my girlfriend Celia is also a fan, and if we cannot go to Bernabeu we watch important games at her local bar, La Bodeguita (worthy of it’s own blog…).

Real Madrid has won 14 Champions League titles, 35 league titles, etc., etc. But it is not about the victories, more about the impossible comebacks, the last-minute goals that get us those championships, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, and Cristiano Ronaldo, Zidane, “Peđa” Mijatović, Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale… every move of every goal engraved in our memory.

So now you know, other teams are good and even great, but none come close to Real Madrid.