Real Madrid hosts Falcons, home of world champion welcomes Bengals ahead of NFL game in Madrid - myMotherLode.com
By Google News Sports ·
MADRID (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons began preparing for their NFL game in Madrid on Wednesday at the training center of Spanish soccer powerhouse Real Madrid, while the Cincinnati Bengals start practicing Thursday at the facilities of World Cup champion Spain.
Both teams departed to the capital on Tuesday for Sunday’s game at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, home of the record 15-time European champion.
“This is a beautiful facility for us to get some work done this week,” Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said. “This is a huge undertaking to take your football team across the pond. And I’m just very appreciative and grateful to the NFL, to our organization. Amazing the amount of work that goes into this.
“I just get to show up and step on the plane and we’re here. But there’s so much work that goes into it, and I’m very appreciative to our group for taking great care of us.”
The Falcons went straight to Real Madrid’s training center for a workout.
It will be the second NFL regular-season game in Madrid after the Miami Dolphins beat the Washington Commanders 16-13 in overtime in last year’s inaugural game in the country.
“There’s always fine tuning that needs to be done, but everything seems to be going on track,” said Rafa de los Santos, the NFL country manager for Spain. “We’re super happy with the way that everything is going, at the stadium level, at the city level, at everything that has to do with the events that we have through the course of the week. Everything ready for a big Sunday.”
The game will include a moment to remember the victims of the high-speed train collision that killed 69 people and injured dozens last week. Organizers did not elaborate on the tribute, saying it will be a surprise.
The game in Madrid will be the seventh in a record…
Originally published by Google News Sports