Baku city guide: What Arsenal and Chelsea supporters can get up to in Azerbaijan’s vibrant capital ahead of Europa League final

Baku city guide: What Arsenal and Chelsea supporters can get up to in Azerbaijan’s vibrant capital ahead of Europa League final
Playing in the Europa League can take you to places in Europe which aren’t particularly on the beaten track, so the fact that this year’s final is being played in Baku is arguably appropriate.Arsenal and Chelsea will contest the showpiece match in the capital city of Azerbaijan on Wednesday night – a game you can listen to LIVE on talkSPORT – but the location has attracted plenty of criticism.Arsenal and Chelsea will contest the 2019 Europa League final inside Baku’s Olympic StadiumGetty Images - Getty6
Arsenal and Chelsea will contest the 2019 Europa League final inside Baku’s Olympic Stadium
Firstly, both clubs were only given a ticket allocation of 6,000 each even though Baku’s Olympic Stadium has a capacity of 69,870.However, both Arsenal and Chelsea have been forced to send some tickets back as fans have found it difficult to find a way to Baku, which is situated almost 2,500 miles away from London.It’s not just fans who are staying behind either.Gunners midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not travel to Baku due to fears over his safety as Azerbaijan and his homeland Armenia are embroiled in a century-long conflict.Mkhitaryan will not play the final due Armenia and Azerbaijan’s long-running conflictGetty Images - Getty6
Mkhitaryan will not play the final due Armenia and Azerbaijan’s long-running conflict

  • Fans start petition to move Europa League final from Baku to Wembley


So there’s been plenty of controversy surrounding Baku but the show must go on.And we at talkSPORT.com have had a look at some interesting facts about Baku, as well as what the city has on offer to the travelling Arsenal and Chelsea fans who have made the long trip.

Factfile

  • Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan and is the lowest-lying capital city in the world (28m below sea level).
  • It is the biggest city in the Caucasus region, and also has the largest urban base on the shores of the Caspian Sea. It is nearly 2,000km from both Moscow and Istanbul. It is further east than Baghdad, the capital of Iraq.
  • The Olympic Stadium, completed in 2015, is a host stadium for the European Championship in 2020 (three Group A matches and a quarter-final).
  • Baku launched a bid to host the 2016 and 2020 summer Olympics but were eliminated at the first stage by the International Olympic Committee.
This is how far Arsenal and Chelsea must travel for their Europa League final dateGoogle Maps6
This is how far Arsenal and Chelsea must travel for their Europa League final date

Where to stay

If you’re planning to go to the final and haven’t sorted out a place to stay, then you ought to get your skates on.But there are plenty of hotels and hostels being advertised in Baku, some for as little as 2 a night!However, the city has undergone a great deal of development over the past few decades so there are some nicer places to stay, with the Sapphire Hotel charging 920 a night for one person. Breakfast is included but it is located around 14 miles from the stadium.What has Baku got on offer for the travelling Arsenal and Chelsea fans?Getty Images - Getty6
What has Baku got on offer for the travelling Arsenal and Chelsea fans?

Culture

For those of you into your history, fans can take a look at the walled old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It boasts the 15th-century Shirvanshahs Palace, home to the Shirvanshah dynasty that ruled the region between the ninth and 15th century.At night, a number of Baku’s modern buildings are illuminated, including the city’s iconic Flame Towers which are certainly a sight for sore eyes.Baku’s Flame Towers in the colours of Azerbaijan’s flagGetty Images - Getty6
Baku’s Flame Towers in the colours of Azerbaijan’s flag
There is also a National Park (Milli Park) which runs parallel to Baku’s seafront.

Eating and drinking

And for those of you who consider yourself a foodie, there are similarities between Azerbaijani cuisine and Turkish and Iranian dishes.A classic meal in Azerbaijan is pilaf, a rice dish flavoured with saffron and mixed with meat or vegetables.As for drinks, The Independent recommends The Dalida and The Old School Cafe to get your range of local delicacies and adventurous alcohol.The Old School Cafe in Baku comes recommendedOld School Cafe Facebook6
The Old School Cafe in Baku comes recommended
However, the Foreign Office warns: Muggings do occur from time to time after dark in the centre of town around the western bars and clubs.”

Claudio Ranieri replaced Slavisa Jokanovic as Fulham boss in November
Claude Puel: Peter Schmeichel confirms son, Kasper, wants to

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will be making amendments to his squad this summer

Kevin De Bruyne thought Man City team-mate Raheem Sterling was a "d***head" before they met after making assumptions based on how the England player had been portrayed in the media. The pair both
Kevin De Bruyne on Man City teammate Raheem Sterling: 'I

Sancho was highly-rated at City

Home / Liverpool vs Barcelona player ratings: Alexander-Arnold, Origi and Wijnaldum among Anfield heroes as Suarez Sport May 8, 2019 Liverpool vs Barcelona player ratings: Alexander-Arnold, Origi and Wijnaldum among Anfield heroes as Suarez
Liverpool vs Barcelona player ratings: Alexander-Arnold

Vic Crowe would later manage Aston Villa.

Hello people and welcome back to the channel. In our prediction we look at League Twos Playoff match between Tranmere and Forest Green I hope you enjoy like and subscribe.
League Two play-off semi-final first leg: On the whistle

Andre Gomes is on Tottenham’s radar

NOT THERE YET The Red Devils are firmly in the hunt for a Champions League place and knocked Paris Saint-Germain out of Europe on Wednesday Dietmar Hamann believes Manchester United are still 'lagging behind' Manchester City and Liverpool, despite their upturn in form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Liverpool legend Dietmar Hamann insists Manchester United are
hollywoodadviser.com/liverpool-legend-dietmar-hamann-insists-manchester-united-are-still-lagging-behind-manchester-city-and-liverpool-despite-incredible-form-under-ole-gunnar-solskjaer/
NOT THERE YET The Red Devils are firmly in the hunt for a Champions League place and knocked Paris Saint-Germain out of Europe on Wednesday Dietmar Hamann believes Manchester United are still 'lagging behind' Manchester City and Liverpool, despite their upturn in form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Liverpool legend Dietmar Hamann insists Manchester United are

Arsenal stars Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Viewers of the meeting between Real Betis and Barcelona have flooded to social media this evening, to wax lyrical about Lionel Messi And the @RealBetis fans have given him an ovation and have
Real Betis 1-4 Barcelona: Lionel Messi hits hat-trick and

Kylian Mbappe is a key player for PSG

Manchester United news: Paul Pogba will not stay and Zinedine Zidane is the best man to manage him, says Mido The former striker says Mino Raiola, who was his agent for a decade, will already be
Manchester United news: Paul Pogba will not stay and Zinedine

Krzysztof Pitek has been a huge hit at Genoa
Tottenham news: Stats suggest Heung-Min Son is more important

Dybala pokes the ball past De Gea in the United goal during Juventus’ Champions League clash at Old Trafford

JORDAN HENDERSON Perhaps Gareth Southgate is the man to thank. Henderson had been gainfully employed in a more disciplined role on Liverpool's run to the Champions League final last year and most
The two-year question Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been

Tottenham have. quite remarkably, not drawn a single match this season
'Tottenham's new stadium delays have affected the Spurs

Mason Greenwood is on the bench for United this evening

Last month, former Manchester City captain Richard Dunne said Mendy needed to cut back on social media. The France international is very active on Twitter and Instagram. Dunne, who made 352 appearances for City between 2000 and 2009, said: "[Paul] Pogba was on social media all the time earlier this season and wasn't playing well.
LIVE Manchester City Monaco News | One News Page

Chelsea supporters have been chanting against Sarri for a number of months

Leicester City news: Leaked images show what Foxes three adidas kits may look like next season The pictures were posted online after the club held a promo shoot in the city this week By Josh Fordham
Leicester City news: Leaked images appearance what Foxes

The Hammers could be deadly with this line up

It remains to be seen if this will be the club's actual away kit for the coming campaign with no official confirmation coming from the Manchester club. ← Pep Guardiola apologises for Manchester City 'Allez, Allez, Allez' song about Liverpool fans, says it wasn't 'intention' to offend anyone
Leeds United fan who got 'England World Cup winners' tattoo

Posting Komentar

0 Komentar