Despite beating Bayern Munich in the UCL, Diego Simeone says focus must already turn to the next match.

The Vicente Calderon turned 50 at the weekend – and Atletico Madrid laid on a big party to celebrate the bittersweet event.

After more than 40 years playing at their previous Stadium Metropolitano, a half-century ago Atletico moved to their new ground by the banks of the Rio Manzanares, with the first game in their swanky new home taking place against Valencia on Oct. 2, 1966.

Colchoneros legend Luis Aragones fittingly scored the first goal in the all-seater 62,000 stadium — which was not quite 100 percent completed by kick off. The 90 minutes also saw Valencia equalise, and fans rush for shelter after a rainstorm struck.

The anniversary was marked by a number of nostalgic reports in the local media, including AS editor Alfredo Relano recalling how the connections of then president Vicente Calderon had helped twist the arms of reluctant local authorities to help finance a new home for the [then as now] economically troubled club.

50 years later, Atletico opened the doors of the stadium on Saturday morning. It was free for club members to enter, with other visitors paying €16 [adults] or €8 [children]. A reported 6,000 took the opportunity for a look around, while five members of that 1966 XI were also honoured in a ceremony later in the day.

On Sunday morning the gates were opened again as around 12,000 fans came to watch Diego Simeone’s current team beat Valencia 2-0, with big screens placed on the Calderon pitch.

The celebrations were also tinged with a bit of sadness, as this could be Atletico’s final season at the Calderon. The club’s owners have done a deal with the local city council, currently under review, to develop the prime site by the river and build two 30-storey residential towers.

If all goes well with that plan, the team will begin 2016-17 at the former Olympic Stadium “La Peineta,” located by the airport far from the city centre.

The controversial move was mostly pushed out of minds for now however. And Sunday ended extra happily for Atletico, with title rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona drawing 1-1 at home to Eibar, and losing 4-3 at Celta Vigo respectively.

Which meant that Simeone’s side finished their birthday weekend looking down on everyone else from the top of the Primera Division table.

Dermot Corrigan is a Madrid-based football writer who covers La Liga and the Spain national team for ESPN FC. Twitter @dermotmcorrigan.


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