The only bad thing about watching football in Argentina (if you can ignore the amount of games that finish 0-0) is that it absolutely ruins all other football for you for at least a month. 6 days after watching Boca Juniors defeat River Plate 2-0 at La Bombonera, I was watching Llantwit Major AFC beat Afan Lido at home. It wasn’t quite the same.
Here are 10 photos I’ve taken at games in Argentina, to try and share a bit of what makes me love it so much.
Boca Juniors vs. Riber Plate at La Bombonera. Some things don’t need any further explanation
Every football stadium in Argentina is surrounded by murals, from actual works of art to goofy ones like this. This silly looking tiger with no arms is at Tigre, and I absolutely love it.
Speaking of murals, Diego is everywhere. The greatest player of all time (I said what I said) is unavoidable in Argentina, and no other country on Earth loves their heroes as much as the Argentine’s do. Diego Eterno.
Where else in the world would you see this? A core memory from Defensa y Justicia vs. CA Huracan.
Days before this game, Argentinos Juniors had lost a cup final they were very much expected to win. This is how the players were received, with the entire stadium chanting the name of the player who missed the key penalty in the shootout.
This San Lorenzo fan lived every kick of the 90 minutes as if his life depended on it - a routine 1-0 victory in a game that had no impact on anything. Passion beyond reason.
The most rain I’ve ever seen at a football match had the stands mostly emptying in this clash between Atlanta FC and their rivals Chacarita Juniors. Being Welsh, the rain didn’t bother me, nor did it bother this hardcore supporter of the home side who decided to brave the conditions.
“La Cancha” is for everyone, and just because you’ve not left primary school yet, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a smoke bomb. This was at Gimnasia, a brilliant stadium in the woods that you definitely have to visit.
The barbed wire might be slightly over-the-top, as these three Club Atlético Excursionistas fans watch their side at the third level of Argentine football.
Rosario Central. A security guard with a spider web tattooed on his bald head wouldn’t let me into this stand as it was too dangerous. Having watched the game from the adjacent stand - I had to agree.
This list was only supposed to be 10 photos, but how could I leave out a stadium that looks this good? This was Club Atlético Huracán during a heavy home defeat to Newell’s Old Boys at the end of a disappointing season.
