Extremadura, land of Atlético de Madrid legends
With over 70 Atlético de Madrid fan clubs in Extremadura, the Copa del Rey match between CP Cacereño and the Madrid team has sparked great excitement in the region.
Manuel Luengo, president of the Peña Atlética de Cáceres and vice president of the Unión Internacional de Peñas del Atlético de Madrid, remembers the only match the Atlético de Madrid played in Cáceres in 1982.
Luengo, a member of both Atlético de Madrid and CP Cacereño, has his heart divided for this match, but is sure he will leave the stadium happy whoever wins.
The extensive presence of Atlético de Madrid fan clubs in Extremadura is due to the ’eternal’ feeling for the colors and the numerous players born in Extremadura who played for the Madrid team.
Luengo dares to name an Atlético de Madrid starting eleven of Extremaduran origin: Ivan Pichu Cuéllar (Mérida), Francisco Delgado Melo (Plasencia), Vicente Medina, Eusebio Bejarano, Sergio Morgado and Adelardo Rodríguez (Badajoz), Roberto Marina (Villanueva de la Serena), Manuel Sánchez Delgado (Cáceres), Diego Lozano (Montijo), Jesús González Sierra (Almendralejo) and Oliver Torres (Navalmoral de la Mata). However, the excitement for the visit of Atlético de Madrid is marred by ’the unbearable prices’ of the tickets to attend the Príncipe Felipe stadium.
