There are still hours left for the game. The center of Istanbul, the emblematic Taksim Square, the meeting point for many fans of both Manchester City and Inter Milan, sees the temperature and enthusiasm rise every second as they wait for each other for tonight’s game that will see both teams in the Champions League Final.
They wave flags, both the light blue of the British team and the blue-black of the Italian, there are chants and many ‘selfies’ in front of the big ball set up in the square and especially in front of the giant replica of the ‘Orejona’ that is the center of Taksim.
The square is always a crossroads for residents and tourists, and fans of both colors merge with a throng of passers-by from many countries, equally interested in preserving a graphic souvenir of the Champions League.
In front of the huge glass, two girls of obvious Caribbean origin have their picture taken with an older Turkish couple, conservative in appearance and devoutly veiled.
Several police vans are standing, but the uniformed ones are standing still: there seems to be no confrontation or tension between the fans. Nothing disturbs the festive atmosphere.
Thunderous music from a city bus with loudspeakers warms the atmosphere and an entertainer reminds us that the city has made available to fans a huge space for entertainment, concerts and football activities on the shores of the Sea of Marmara.
But many fans are not yet aware of this offer, although the program is indicated on the square itself.
In addition, those who have tickets will go tonight to the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, prepared for 75,000 spectators.
“We will win. Probably one to zero,” ventures Marco, an Inter fan from Venezuela who has come from New York to watch the final.
“The only bad thing is that the stadium is so far away. I think it takes us almost two hours by public transport and the truth is that we still don’t know how to go,” he told EFE.
The stadium has a metro connection to Taksim Square, but it is necessary to change lines three times, and although there are directions at the corresponding stations, it can be a little odyssey for someone unfamiliar with the city.
Source: El heraldo
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
