The people of Madrid are getting impatient. The whistle is postponed to 9:15 p.m., then 9:30 p.m. The King of Spain finally arrives on the lawn, the cup in his hands. The fans applaud vigorously. “While he supports Athletico [l’un des grands rivaux du Real Madrid en Espagne, NDLR] laughs Jean-Pierre. The match ended up starting.

Liverpool or the Girondins? “Let’s say that there is a team that makes us dream, and the other that makes us cry”

There, the hubbub ceases immediately. Enzo, who came with his uncle, crosses his fingers and repeats: “We are going to win. The first free kick is however in favor of Liverpool. Nothing serious, but the room is under tension.

“Real will arise”

Every time Benzema appears on the screen, the people of Bordeaux cheer him on. It is, unfortunately for them, not him who shines during the first minutes. “We have no reason to doubt, assures Fabrice, eating a sandwich before the match. The team is calm. He quickly becomes disillusioned. A few minutes later, English club striker Mané framed his shot. The first clear chance. “It’s Liverpool’s quarter of an hour, we have to let the storm pass, plague that has supported the club since the 80s. Real will come up again, I believe in it. Benzema will do what he does best: reverse the trend. »

A premonitory analysis. Minutes from halftime, Benzema met the ball in the back of the net. The fans exult, but an offside position hovers in the air and the goal is disallowed. “It’s scandalous, complains Augustin, in Real uniform. Arbitration is against us! The half-time calms the ardor. The people of Madrid go out for some fresh air. Among them, Bruce, Karl and Adrien are coming here for the first time. “To follow the match, it’s great, enthuses Adrien. Now, Liverpool will have to show flaws, otherwise it will be complicated. »

The rift appears at 58^e minute of play. Vinicius Junior pops up and scores. Everybody get up. “That’s it, the game is on,” rejoices Fabrice. The minutes pass and the Madridistas remain energized, despite Liverpool’s incisive offensives: “there’s offside there! », « what does he do? », « congratulations, beautiful defense »…

“We are less serene”

At the edge of the last quarter of an hour of regulation time, the tension is at its height. Vincius Junior collapses to the ground, tackled, and the crowd cries: “Ashamed! Ashamed ! “Real and Liverpool send the ball back, the fans never stop screaming. “It’s hard on my mental health,” murmurs Adrien, as regulation time gives way to additional time. “The minutes are long. They are holding up well, we are less serene than them,” Fabrice trembles. Real bends but does not waver.

“It’s wonderful to only have football as a concern”

Finished, it’s won. The Bordelais de la Peña never stop shouting their joy at them. Some of them grab the copy of the 2010 Champions League cup from a corner of the room. One more on the counter. This evening, joy dominates the Nansouty district.

” May the best win “

A few meters from Place Gambetta, defeat is difficult to digest. Everything had already started well. Rue Castelnau d’Auros, “You’re never walk alone”, the famous song of Liverpool, is heard even before kick-off. The Reds’ repaired Casey’s Pub is in turmoil. Surprisingly, other supporters are riding for Liverpool today. This is the case of Daniil, a Ukrainian. He is Barcelona at heart. “Today is not my day, laughs the twenty-something. So I’m a red by default. »

His wife Alla enjoys a festive evening. Ukrainian too, she has a drink with her mother, who fled her country invaded by Russia. “It’s wonderful to have only football as a concern, Alla breathes. May the best win. Others don’t see it that way.

Liverpool under the skin

The match has just started but Martial stares intensely at the broadcast. To say he has Liverpool under his skin is an understatement. “Last week, I was at Anfield (Liverpool’s stadium), and we lost the English league. I don’t want to be disappointed again! exclaims the forties. Since the 90s, the Bordelais have been following the Reds with burning passion. “My wife contaminated me, and since then I have been a fan”. The couple is even a member of the official association of French supporters of Liverpool.

Also a great supporter of Bordeaux, Martial takes advantage of this breath of fresh air that is the Liverpool team. “Let’s say that there is a team that makes us dream, and the other that makes us cry,” he jokes, a little bitterly.