Spanish Cup Final: May 17 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

It's official: Spanish Cup Final will be played at the Bernabeu Stadium. It will be Friday, May 17, at 9:30 pm. This was the proposal that the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed today to the two finalist teams, Real Madrid and Atletico. Both have agreed at the meeting that began at 1:00 pm today. It is the best for their respective fans. In the side of Reral Madrid have attended the meeting Manuel Redondo (Director of the Office of the President) and Emilio Butragueño (Director of International Relations). For Atletico, Clemente Villaverde (Manager) and Fernando Fariza (Social Area Director). And by the RFEF, Jorge Perez (Secretary General) and Miguel Angel Lopez (Matches Coordinator).

Emilio Butragueño, Jorge Perez and Clemente Villaverde

Atletico and Real Madrid have had to compromise on their initial ideas. Real Madrid representatives who still retain in their memory the defeat against Deportivo in the Spanish Cup Final (the day the club turned 100 years old), wanted the match to play in the Camp Nou or Mestalla, because they understand that "the Finals must be played on neutral field." Atletico claimed the game to be played in their stadium, at the Vicente Calderon by an unwritten agreement already referred by Enrique Cerezo (Atletico's President): "Last Cup Final between Atletico and Real Madrid was played in 'Chamartin' so now we must play at the 'Manzanares'."

But the RFEF, its general secretary, Jorge Perez, has made understand to the managers that conducted the negotiations, Miguel Angel Gil by Atletico and Jose Angel Sanchez by Real Madrid, that "it is logical that the final is played in Madrid, at the stadium with the greatest number of fans to attend." This is the case of the Bernabeu Stadium, but as Perez means "that day is a neutral field under the control of the RFEF in which the capacity is shared equally between the two teams." With these arguments, Atletico and Real Madrid accepted the offer and the official announcement was made following the meeting in Las Rozas. It is the best deal for all parties, including Spansih Television (TVE) that requested the advancement of the Final (was scheduled for Saturday, May 18) to avoid coincide with the Eurovision song contest.

But the big winners will be the fans. "With the difficult situation in Spain, if we can save them a move, they will appreciate it," say representatives of the Federation and the clubs. Teams are also satisfied by the fact that can offer eighteen thousand tickets more to their respective fans. The capacity of the Bernabeu Stadium allows it: 80,354 locations (54,851 Vicente Calderon). In total, each club will have available approximately 30,000 tickets and 24,000 for the RFEF.