Thousands of cheering Real Madrid fans lined the streets to acclaim their heroes yesterday as the team paraded through Madrid in an open-top bus after their European Cup triumph in Paris.
In contrast to Wednesday night's violent celebrations that resulted in 19 arrests, 120 injuries and more than £80,000 in property damage, yesterday's celebration was peaceful, in part because 1,350 police officers lined the route.
The 3-0 victory over Valencia at the Stade de France set off wild celebrations back in Madrid on Wednesday, when fans attempted to take their traditional plunge in the Plaza de Cibeles fountain in the centre of the city but were kept at bay by police.
Police said a group of about 400 started throwing bottles and stones, which led to security forces intervening with tear gas and rubber bullets. Order was restored after a baton charge.
Yesterday, the players waved back to enthusiastic but well-behaved fans during the 21/2-hour drive from the airport to the Cibeles monument, where players lifted the cup and draped the team flag around the statue's neck.
The Real team then headed for their Bernabeu stadium, which was packed to its 87,000 capacity to hear speeches, watch a fireworks display, and be entertained by the Spanish pop group Azucar Moreno.
The team were introduced on an illuminated stage in the shape of a number eight, representing the club's eight European Cups.
One sour note was that Local councillors for both the Socialist Party and the far-left Izquierda Unida said that the Real Madrid club should be billed for the damage caused by its supporters.
The all-Spanish final broke Spanish television records. State broadcaster RTVE said that the match had an average audience of 11,485,000, with viewers peaking at over 13 million.
