Legendary Champion League Match (PSG vs Real Madrid)

Watching a football match in Europe is one of my top goals before coming to France. There are two events that I feel I've been lucky for: first, Leo Messi moved to PSG (France), so I would have a great opportunity to watch one of the greatest players in football history play before he retires; second, PSG will fight against Real Madrid, the club with the most Champions League titles (the champion of champions), in the knockout stages of this prestigious arena.

Therefore, I loaded the PSG homepage daily to hunt for a ticket for this legendary match. Finally, a ticket was taken by me and for the first time in 3 months, I found excited feeling for a trip again. I can't wait to enjoy the excitement of a European football match, listen to the noise of more than 50,000 fans and directly see the famous players in the world like Leo Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Di Maria, Donnarumma, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale. This match is a once-in-a-lifetime moment of my life.

Parc de Princes stadium would be too busy that night when It was going to welcome 50 thousand visitors that night.

Reporters were everywhere to report the hot battle between PSG and Real Madrid.

There were thousand of PSG supporters gathering at bars and cafeterias nearby for discussion before the game.

To show their sport love, many fans lined up at souvenir shops to buy shirts, hats and scarves with PSG logo before entering the stadium.

Tickets were automatically issued from these doors after scanning the QR code of online tickets.

An interim store of PSG was opened to sell their products before the match.

Before entering into Parc de Princes, I had no idea how could I move to my seat on the top of the stadium. Would I use the elevator or the stairs from the field? Or would the stairs be very crowded when there are thousands of people using them? In fact, each area and stand will have their own access which are not busy.

The bright green of the typical football field and the rows of blue, red and white chairs (the main colors of the Paris city’s flag) gradually appeared as I walked up the stairs.

Each seat was given a PSG flag to support for the home team. I got a red one. : D

Every stadium in Europe should be considered as a man-made wonder because of its grandeur at each match.

A great number of fans, including me, arrived early to enjoy the pre-match activities, like the warm-up show of players from both teams.

In Vietnam, we call him as a “true fan” : D

The famous symbol of Champion League had been brought into the center of the field for pre-match activities.

Real Madrid fans, in white shirts, gathered in a specific stand with cover nets, fences and security guards. I thought these security methods were to avoid fans of both sides fighting or throwing something at each other. However, these could not prevent mouth and noise battle between both side. When Real Madrid fans sound on, PSG side responded by booing and whistling back.

Thousand of fans had come.

Now I saw Messi. : D

Warm-up activity was really an epic show with PSG players appearing and practicing on the background music of the song ‘We will rock you’.

Now I understand why people normally talk about "home advantage" for teams playing at home stadium. That is because the cheering of thousand enthusiastic fans will provide a great spiritual strength for their home team and also put a pressure for the away team. Listen to the sound of the crowd before the match:

The second pre-match activity was player introduction. The names of the Real Madrid players were not welcomed by the crowd.

Names of each player of PSG were loudly applauded, especially the last two players: Messi and Mbappe.

Singing the PSG’s anthem (Allez Paris Saint Germain) together was the next pre-match activity. The stadium atmosphere became hotter and hotter before the ball rolls.

Before the match, all players lines up to listen to (and sing) the Champion League anthem. Epic background music, red flares and thousands of waving flags created a fantastic scene. This was my most favorite part of the match.

Everyone almost held their breath during Messi's penalty kick. Unfortunately, the shot was unsuccessful due to the great defense of Real Madrid’s goalkeeper.

Finally, the goal came at the final minutes of the match thanks to Mbappe. Everyone cheered his name and sang the PSG song to celebrate the goal.

PSG team did not forget to send thank to their enthusiastic fans after the game.

At the end, Real Madrid fans did not leave the stadium early. I thought it was to avoid the clash between fans. There were still mouth and gesture battle between fans of two side after the game : D

After the game, the delicious takeaway food stalls attracted a lot of people.

The metro station was overloaded by thousand of people.

Before the Champion League match, I have visited Parc de Princes stadium right after the Ballon D'or 2022 Award Ceremony. It was a beautiful day and the banner of Messi and Donnarumma was held on the main entry of the stadium. On this occasion, I would also like to send you some pictures of the stadium at that time:

I also came to the PSG store to find some souvenirs: