REAL MADRID’s Bernabeu is widely-regarded as one of the planet’s foremost football cathedrals – but the Galacticos are downsizing to finish the season.
The Spanish giants have moved from their historic stadium into the much smaller 6,000-capacity Alfredo Di Stefano as the La Liga campaign continues behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Real Madrid could be set to move home temporarilyCredit: Getty Images
They are set to finish the season at the 6,000-seater Alfredo Di Stefano StadiumCredit: Getty Images – Getty
This is to allow them to begin their £500million redevelopment of the Bernabeu early, which will see a retractable roof, a 360-degree video screen that goes around the entire ground and build spacious leisure and entertainment facilities.
And the capacity of the ground will be reduced from 80,243 to 80,242.
After getting the green light to make the temporary switch, Zinedine Zidane’s squad will still have a few home comforts as they prepare to face Eibar on June 14.
The Alfredo Di Stefano pitch will have a very familiar feel being the exact same pitch dimensions as the Bernabeu.
And some of their home-grown talents will also be well-used to the surroundings.
The Alfredo Di Stefano pitch will have a very familiar feel being the exact same pitch dimensions as the BernabeuCredit: Getty Images
Zinedine Zidane and some of the youngsters in his squad will already be familiar with the smaller surroundingsCredit: Getty Images
The Bernabeu – one of football’s cathedralsCredit: AP:Associated Press
The ground plays host to Madrid’s reserve side Castilla.
The multi-purpose stadium, named after Real legend Alfredo Di Stefano, is also due to be used by the club’s women’s team from next season.
It is also part of the club’s new Ciudad Real Madrid training complex, near to Madrid-Barajas Airport.
It opened in May 2006 with the inaugural match seeing Madrid take on Stade de Reims, a rematch of the 1956 European Cup Final won by the Spanish side.
Real triumphed on this occasion also, with Sergio Ramos, Jose Manuel Jurado both scoring while Antonio Cassano and Roberto Soldada also grabbing a brace each in the 6-1 victory.
The capacity of the all-seated main stand is 4,000, with an extra 2,000 seats at the eastern stand taking the total to 6,000 mark.
LaLiga have confirmed they will not deem the season null and void due to the Covid-19 outbreak as it would cost them £840m.
League president Javier Tebas admitted a number of scenarios are being discussed including finishing the season behind closed doors – which may lead to confirmation of the switch for Madrid.
Real Madrid plan to continue playing at the Bernabeu next season during the renovations.
Inside Real Madrid’s £500m Santiago Bernabeu stadium redevelopment which will actually reduce capacity by one
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
