How to Attend a Football Match in Seville

Before heading to see the Andalusian capital’s best team strut their stuff, you might like to read up on the history of Sevilla Fútbol Club (FC). Founded on Burns Night in January 1890, the Rjoiblancos (‘white and reds,’ after the colours of their kit), as the team is sometimes called, are the most successful in Andalusia and have many important victories to their name. These include a Spanish Super Cup in 2007, five UEFA Cups (2006, 2007, 2014, 2015 and 2016) and a UEFA Super Cup in 2006. Since entering La Liga in 1934, the Rojiblancos have played in Spain’s premier league for all but seven seasons. Any visiting team taking them on in Seville is in for a tough match.

Dating back to 1958, Sevilla CF’s home ground is the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium, named after a former president of the club. Though the stadium had a capacity of around 77,000 in the mid-1970s, subsequent FIFA regulations required standing areas to be converted into seating, resulting in a present-day capacity of just under 43,000. Its relatively small size makes for an intimate atmosphere during matches and means that, even if you’re sitting on the highest rows, you’ll still have a great view of the pitch.

Sevilla CF supporters are known as Palanganas and those that sit behind the north and south goals usually lead the chanting and singing, so these are great places to sit. Food and drinks can be bought in the stadium and the stands are manned by helpful staff, which is a bonus, as seats can be difficult to locate. If visiting with young children or elderly relatives, it’s recommended that you sit at the end of a row, as there’s not much space to move in between rows of seating.

Sevilla CF’s home ground is located in the Nervión neighbourhood of Seville (on a road called Calle Sevilla Fútbol Club, appropriately) and is surrounded by bars and restaurants in which you can (hopefully) celebrate the team’s victory after the match. Try Casa Pulido, a cosy, traditional tapas joint that’s famous for its chicken dishes, or Meson El Pasiego, said by many locals to be the best bar in the neighbourhood. Alternatively, the historic centre of Seville is about a 20-minute walk away and is full of places to eat and drink into the small hours of the morning and to party until breakfast the next day.

The rivalry between Sevilla FC and the Andalusian capital’s other team, Real Betis, is one of the most famous in Spanish football, and given that each club plays at home on alternating weeks, there’s a match in Seville every week during the season. Buying tickets online, via Sevilla FC’s website, is straightforward, but there’s just one catch: in true Spanish style, the exact date and time of the fixtures are only finalised about a week beforehand.

Nevertheless, the frequency of matches means that obtaining tickets is not usually difficult, except for when the visiting team is a big name. Prices vary depending on the location of the seats, and Sevilla’s opponents. Expect to pay at least €100 if Barcelona or Real Madrid are visiting, whilst decent tickets for most other fixtures won’t cost more than about €35 or €40. Bear in mind that changes, cancellations or refunds are not allowed if your tickets are booked on the club’s website.

Accessing the stadium is simple. The city’s main train station, Sevilla Santa Justa, is a 10-minute walk away, whilst the nearest Metro stop, Nervión, is right opposite. The historic centre of Seville is about a 20-minute walk, or minute bus ride, away.