Playing in the Europa League can take you to places in Europe which aren’t particularly on the beaten track, so the fact that this year’s final is being played in Baku is arguably appropriate.
Arsenal and Chelsea will contest the showpiece match in the capital city of Azerbaijan on Wednesday night – a game you can listen to LIVE on talkSPORT – but the location has attracted plenty of criticism.
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Arsenal and Chelsea will contest the 2019 Europa League final inside Baku’s Olympic Stadium
Firstly, both clubs were only given a ticket allocation of 6,000 each even though Baku’s Olympic Stadium has a capacity of 69,870.
However, both Arsenal and Chelsea have been forced to send some tickets back as fans have found it difficult to find a way to Baku, which is situated almost 2,500 miles away from London.
It’s not just fans who are staying behind either.
Gunners midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not travel to Baku due to fears over his safety as Azerbaijan and his homeland Armenia are embroiled in a century-long conflict.
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Mkhitaryan will not play the final due Armenia and Azerbaijan’s long-running conflict
Fans start petition to move Europa League final from Baku to Wembley
So there’s been plenty of controversy surrounding Baku but the show must go on.
And we at talkSPORT.com have had a look at some interesting facts about Baku, as well as what the city has on offer to the travelling Arsenal and Chelsea fans who have made the long trip.
Factfile
- Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan and is the lowest-lying capital city in the world (28m below sea level).
- It is the biggest city in the Caucasus region, and also has the largest urban base on the shores of the Caspian Sea. It is nearly 2,000km from both Moscow and Istanbul. It is further east than Baghdad, the capital of Iraq.
- The Olympic Stadium, completed in 2015, is a host stadium for the European Championship in 2020 (three Group A matches and a quarter-final).
- Baku launched a bid to host the 2016 and 2020 summer Olympics but were eliminated at the first stage by the International Olympic Committee.
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This is how far Arsenal and Chelsea must travel for their Europa League final date
Where to stay
If you’re planning to go to the final and haven’t sorted out a place to stay, then you ought to get your skates on.
But there are plenty of hotels and hostels being advertised in Baku, some for as little as £2 a night!
However, the city has undergone a great deal of development over the past few decades so there are some nicer places to stay, with the Sapphire Hotel charging £920 a night for one person. Breakfast is included but it is located around 14 miles from the stadium.
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What has Baku got on offer for the travelling Arsenal and Chelsea fans?
Culture
For those of you into your history, fans can take a look at the walled old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It boasts the 15th-century Shirvanshahs Palace, home to the Shirvanshah dynasty that ruled the region between the ninth and 15th century.
At night, a number of Baku’s modern buildings are illuminated, including the city’s iconic Flame Towers which are certainly a sight for sore eyes.
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Baku’s Flame Towers in the colours of Azerbaijan’s flag
There is also a National Park (Milli Park) which runs parallel to Baku’s seafront.
Eating and drinking
And for those of you who consider yourself a foodie, there are similarities between Azerbaijani cuisine and Turkish and Iranian dishes.
A classic meal in Azerbaijan is pilaf, a rice dish flavoured with saffron and mixed with meat or vegetables.
As for drinks, The Independent recommends The Dalida and The Old School Cafe to get your range of local delicacies and adventurous alcohol.
Old School Cafe Facebook
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The Old School Cafe in Baku comes recommended
However, the Foreign Office warns: “Muggings do occur from time to time after dark in the centre of town around the western bars and clubs.”
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