Clubs close to Madrid
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are the teams that trip off the tongue for any football follower on a trip to Milan.
And Getafe's now positioned itself as the third main team in Madrid, although Getafe's a city in its own right. But there's more in the city, and just outside to complete a busy football-watching weekend. Definitely handy to bear in mind as Spanish kick off time changes can cause problems with the best laid plans.
Rayo Vallecano - the fourth team in Madrid in La Liga in 2011/12, and inside the city limits. The Teresa Rivero, capacity 15,500, is an easy romp from the centre of town. Take Subway Line 1 to Buenos Aires, and then it's a five minute walk.
AD Alcorcon - tucked away in an outer suburb of Alcorcon to the south west of Madrid. The Estadio Municipal de Santo Domingo Alcorcon is reached by suburban train. Go from Madrid Atocha to Retamas, Las station, a 25 minute journey, and from there it's a five minute walk. You can get off earlier at Alcorcon but it's a much longer walk. It is reachable by metro, about a mile from Parque Oueste on the MetroSur metro extension.
Guadalajara - if you fancy going right out of the city - or if you've no other option - this is a possible choice. The club is in the city of the same name east of Madrid. The journey takes an hour from Madrid Atocha - Estadio Pedro Escartin, 5,000 capacity, is a 15 minute walk from the station - turn right into Calle de Fransciso Aritio, walk 800 yards then turn left.
RSD Alcala - if you want to dip into the third league (Segunda B) this is the one for you. Trains take 35 minutes from Madrid Atocha to Alcala de Henares. It's a picturesque Spanish town, and the 8,000 Estadio Municipal del Val is around a mile from the station. Turn left out the station, then right along Paseo de la Estacion to a roundabout. Cross the main road, then ahead and right. Continue along Calle del Teniente Ruiz, which becomes Paseo de la Alameda. At the end turn left and the stadium is on the right. Bus 9/2/5
Note also that all the major Madrid sides have B teams that play in high leagues, usually at an alternative stadium.
