Three months down, and I finally feel like I’m catching my breath. Starting a master’s degree has been equal parts exciting, overwhelming, and unexpectedly eye-opening. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some experiences out of the classroom (minus the matches I attended with accreditation, which can be found on my blog!), I’ve had before the holidays begin.
On December 2, 2025, my group which I am doing my thesis for my master’s with and I went to tour the Bernabéu Stadium. At the beginning of the semester, we got a professional invitation to tour the stadium, which I was so ecstatic and grateful for. I was so excited to do the tour with this wonderful group of women I am proud to know!
Here are some pictures and a video from the tour:
On December 4, 2025, my master’s group and I had the opportunity to visit the Adidas Office in Madrid. Here, we got to meet Andrea Ezquerro, who explained how Adidas, specifically herself, works with athletes, clubs (such as Real Madrid), campaigns, and branding. We even toured the facilities and got a sneak peek at collections scheduled for release in about six months. We took home an exclusive jersey from Adidas’ Marvel collaboration with Real Madrid, along with a comic book.
On December 13, 2025, my friends and I got tickets to see Atlético Madrid vs Valencia. I was thrilled to spend my final day in Madrid before heading to Canada for the holidays, watching football with such great company.
The atmosphere at an Atlético Madrid game is electric and relentless. From the moment the players walk out, the stadium pulses with chanting, drums, and scarves held high. Every challenge is met with roars, every defensive stand feels like a goal, and the crowd lives and breathes each minute with unwavering passion. It was my first time at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium, and from the moment I arrived, there was a tangible buzz in the air, and I was excited to experience the match day atmosphere firsthand.
Atlético Madrid ended a brief slump with a 2-1 victory over Valencia. The hosts struck first through captain Koke’s composed finish in the 17th minute before Lucas Beltrán stunned the home crowd by equalizing early in the second half with a superb strike that breathed life into Valencia’s challenge. During the match, we were lucky enough to be seated near Valencia’s fans, watching them celebrate proudly as their team tied the game.
Despite Valencia’s spirited display, including an early Hugo Duro effort that rattled the bar, it was Atlético’s experience that ultimately told: Antoine Griezmann, introduced as a second-half substitute, produced a moment of class to fire home the winner in the 74th minute and secure the crucial three points, ending their two-game losing run and keeping Atlético in the hunt near the top of the table.
The match ultimately showcased the resilience and determination of both sides, with key moments of skill and intensity keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
As the year comes to a close, I’m grateful for moments like these that remind me why I chose this path. With a new year ahead, I’m excited to continue learning, growing, and telling stories from the master’s and games I love, while remaining thankful for the opportunities and people that made this chapter so memorable.
See you in 2026!