Madrid will stage a high-security Champions League night on Tuesday as Atlético de Madrid welcome Manchester United to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano for a 21:00 kick-off.
About 1,150 security personnel will be deployed for the match, which has been designated high risk by Spain’s State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport. The classification requires additional precautions from both clubs, including stricter ticketing procedures, the separation of rival supporters inside the stadium and enhanced entry controls.
Manchester United are expected to be backed by around 3,400 travelling supporters with tickets, adding another major logistical element to a European fixture already carrying heightened policing measures. Fans attending the game have been urged to arrive well before kick-off to allow time for checks in the areas surrounding the ground.
The operation will bring together several branches of the National Police, including intervention units, mounted officers, intelligence personnel, dog handlers, underground security teams and the Mobile Brigade. Traffic officers from the Civil Guard will also be involved, alongside Madrid Municipal Police, Samur-Civil Protection, firefighters and the Red Cross.
Preventive surveillance will be stepped up around both sets of supporters, with the security services coordinating their work with the clubs and other organisers to protect those attending. For Atlético and United, the contest will unfold under the usual pressure of a Champions League evening; outside the lines, Madrid’s authorities are preparing for one of the week’s most closely managed European occasions.
