Atlético and Real Madrid to travel to the Wanda on public transport

When they were starting out in Real Madrid’s youth teams, both Raúl and Iker Casillas would occasionally use public transport to get to and from the Ciudad Deportiva at the north end of the Castellana. On Sunday, Atlético and Real Madrid will be doing the same. Both teams will make the short journey across town to the Wanda Metropolitano on a fleet of four electric Municipal buses.

The players will have to do without the comfort of travelling in style on the official team bus - a luxury Volvo-Irizar-i8 fitted with plush, leather seats, fridge, HD television, Wi-Fi, a coffee machine and even a sofa. With driver Manolo Boza at the wheel, it has taken the squad all over the world since 2016 but Real Madrid’s players will board a more modest vehicle when it’s time to make their way from the training ground and head off to the Metropolitano.

Madrid’s bus network celebrates 75th anniversary

Madrid’s bus network, Empresa Municipal de Transportes de Madrid (EMT) celebrated its 75th anniversary in November last year and have organised a host of events throughout 2022 to celebrate.

One of those events, to promote EMT’s new Linea Cero 002 bus route which runs 21 stops linking Puerta de Toledo and Argüelles, will be to ferry Atlético and Real Madrid to the stadium for the 8 May derby on non-polluting, electric buses. EMT had the idea in mind for several months and both clubs agreed to take part earlier this year. Atleti have the shorter distance to travel - they will be setting off from the Hilton Madrid Airport hotel and should be at the ground within a few minutes. Real Madrid’s journey will be a little longer. They will set off from Real Madrid City in Valdebebas - the newly-crowned LaLiga champions should complete the 9km trip in just over 10 minutes. It will be a new experience for both sets of players, who for one day only will be travelling to the game just the same as many of their fans.