Madrid Secures Metropolitano with Extensive Security Operation for Atlético-Barcelona Match

Nearly 1,500 personnel will be deployed in the capital for the Champions League match, deemed High Risk.

Generic image of emergency lights on wet asphalt, with a blurred stadium in the background.
IA

Generic image of emergency lights on wet asphalt, with a blurred stadium in the background.

The Government Delegation in Madrid has organized an extensive security operation involving nearly 1,500 personnel for the Champions League quarter-final second leg match between Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona, to be held this Tuesday at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

The deployment, scheduled to begin at 9:00 PM, will include various specialized units from the National Police, such as the Police Intervention Unit, Cavalry, Information, Underground, the Mobile Brigade, and the Cóndor-Drones group. These will be joined by members of the Civil Guard, Municipal Police, Firefighters, Mobility Agents, medical personnel from Samur-Protección Civil, and Red Cross volunteers.
Additionally, Atlético de Madrid will provide security assistants, and surveillance in the Metro will be reinforced with an increase in public transport security personnel, as announced by the Government Delegation. The match has been classified as High Risk by the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance in Sport, which mandates both clubs to implement extraordinary measures for ticket sales, fan separation, and stadium access controls.
Security forces will intensify preventive surveillance, with a particular focus on monitoring the fan bases of both teams, in coordination with all organizations involved in the event's development and public protection. Approximately 3,500 FC Barcelona supporters are expected to attend, many of whom have already been seen in the city center, especially in Plaza Mayor, a traditional meeting point for rival fans visiting Madrid.
The stadium, with a capacity for 69,000 people, is expected to be completely full. To facilitate access controls, fans are advised to arrive well in advance of the match start time.