Santiago Bernabeu, one of the most prestigious and well-known stadiums in the footballing and sporting world, is truly a magnificent sight to behold for anyone, not just a football fan.
Home to the most successful and sought after team in Europe (and the world), and arguably the greatest football club to have ever played the sport, Real Madrid C.F, this stadium has witnessed some of the greatest moments in modern football. And also River Plate and Boca Juniors played their rearranged Copa Libertadores final second leg at this stadium.
Key facts
Club: Real Madrid CF
Opening: 1947
Capacity: 81,044 seats
History and description
In the early parts of the 20th century, Real Madrid first played at Campo De O’Donnell, and then moved to the larger Campo de Chamartín in 1924.
In 1943, Chamartin had already become too small again, and club-president Santiago Bernabéu decided that Madrid needed a new and modern 100,000-stadium.
This new stadium got built at the same site of Campo de Chamartín. Construction began in 1945, and on the 14th of December 1947 Estadio Santiago Bernabéu officially opened with a match against Portuguese champions OS Belenenses (3-1).
The stadium was initially still called Nuevo Estadio Chamartin, but received the name of the club-president eight years later.
In 2012, Real Madrid presented plans to further upgrade the stadium with commercial and corporate facilities, and to increase capacity to over 90,000 seats. Four architects were asked to present designs, from which the winner was chosen later in 2013. However, the project was first put on hold due to an investigation of the European Union into the granting of illegal state aid, and later rejected by the Madrid city council.
Classic match at Bernabeu
Real Madrid 3-1 PSG (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - ROUND OF 16 - 1ST LEG)
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th and 101st Champions League goals for Real Madrid as the holders came from behind to secure a late 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in their last-16 first-leg tie at the Bernabeu.
Adrien Rabiot fired PSG ahead in the 33rd minute but Ronaldo equalised on the stroke of half-time from the penalty spot to become the first player to hit a century of goals for one team in Europe's elite club competition.
PSG dominated the second half but were made to pay for not converting their chances as Ronaldo's second (83) was followed by a third from Marcelo (86) to give the 12-time winners a healthy lead ahead of the return leg in Paris on March 6.
A tour for Bernabeu
New Bernabeu
The famous stadium will have the current roof stripped back and replaced with a new, retractable one. Real Madrid have released an incredible video of new Bernabeu that could land the club in £500million of debt.
The stadium will look completely different from the outside with its metallic skin exterior.
CGI is also used to show how the in-stadium interactive museum will appear as well as the brand-new VIP suites and outdoor spaces for fans to congregate before matches.
There will be no increase to the 81,044 capacity of the ground but the total height will be boosted by just ten metres.
Real Madrid are hoping to begin the renovation project, which could take up to four years, before the end of this year.