"They've just travelled 4,000 miles east -- from Western Europe to Central Asia -- to play Kairat Almaty in the UEFA Champions League. Spanish newspaper Diario AS described Madrid's trip as "therapy at 30,000 feet;" another newspaper, Marca, said the journey came "at the worst possible time." If conceding five goals in a derby was uncharted territory -- before Saturday's humbling loss at the Metropolitano, it hadn't happened for 75 years -- then this is an equally novel experience for Madrid."
"Almaty, Kazakhstan's historic and cultural capital, has a longitude of 76.939948°. No Champions League game has ever been played this far east. It's a similar longitude to New Delhi, India. Head east from Almaty, along the A-351 highway, and the border with China is just a four-hour drive away. Kairat are competing in the Champions League for the first time in their 71-year history. Matchday one saw them beaten 4-1 in Lisbon at Sporting CP. Now, they're hosting the 15-time European champions."
Real Madrid suffered a 5-2 defeat to Atlético Madrid, the club's first time conceding five goals in a derby in 75 years. Nineteen hours after the loss, the squad boarded a charter flight from Madrid's Barajas Airport to Almaty, Kazakhstan, arriving around midnight local time. The team traveled roughly 4,000 miles east to play Kairat Almaty in the UEFA Champions League. Spanish newspapers described the trip as "therapy at 30,000 feet" and "at the worst possible time." Almaty sits at longitude 76.939948°, a similar longitude to New Delhi, and no Champions League match has been played this far east. Kairat are appearing in the Champions League for the first time in their 71-year history and greeted visitors with locals in traditional dress gathered around a yurt.
Read at ESPN.com
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