got to PA around 5:45 for 7:30 kickoff, told that the bus would take 15-20mins.
PA per John Oliver. when we got there, there were signs for buses to the game... walked inside and saw a
line that was big, but looked like it would move... plus it was air-conditioned. kept following it outside the building the find the end...in
rape-alley. we waited in that line at the PA for 45 minutes and packed onto a standing room bus- stood on that for 45 minutes.. but pleasant minutes- my friend who hooked me up with the ticket had just gotten back from hong kong and so I got to hear all about it. bus stopped on the far end of the parking lot, so we
schlepped it to the stadium, knowing we weren't going to see the opening kickoff. first step accomplished.
we find our way to will-call, give our names and start praying. lady looks one place, then another, comes back and asks us where the tickets came from (I'm already looking to see exactly how far that walk was to the bus drop off)... and then finally finds them. phew. second step accomplished... and it's all gravy from here.
walked in to find our seats-
amazing. beautiful night without much humidity or heat and a huge crowd (82k)
the game definitely lacked tempo for most of it... lots of guys not making the run they'd normally make... but just great to see these guys in person. really impressed with Modric, who constantly found the non-obvious pass to unlock things. also loved watching Rafinha and Isco- so tidy on the ball and also great vision to find the showing or diagonal run. Ramos was a beast out there... especially matching up against Green (I'll talk about him in the US thread) where for the most part Ramos anticipated the run and pass before Green, but also just ate up everything that came to him particularly in the air. and damn me, but Marcello was the MoM- knew he had his guy's number and then relished putting on a show about it on both sides of the ball- the crowd ate it up.
PRETTY great night, especially on the free.