LaLiga and M88 Mansion organize Madrid derby viewing party

Tiago Cardoso Mendes

LaLiga seeks to continue establishing a foothold in the Philippine football scene, as they held a special viewing party for El Derbi de Madrid this past weekend.

The event took place at the Mansion Sports Bar & Lounge in Makati, with LaLiga Ambassador Tiago Mendes in attendance.

The former Atleti midfielder shares, "Thank you for this moment, the real warm welcome that you gave me tonight. It’s a pleasure to be here." The first-time Manila visitor was a part of the side that arguably had the best stretch of its long history, claiming the league title in 2014 and earning a finals berth in the UEFA Champions League twice in a span of three years.

With kickoff taking place at 330am, the event was filled with music from the in-house DJ, raffles and trivia games, with footballs and shirts from both teams serving as prizes while waiting for the game to commence.

In addition, a special Q&A with Tiago took place, with select attendees getting the chance to pick his brain, followed by a photo opportunity. Those who won Atleti-related prizes also had the possibility to have him sign them.

When asked about Real Madrid, he complemented the squad, "Real Madrid wins all the time and that’s what makes them special. They have a lot of good players all season and when you have great players who are close to winning, it’s always difficult to play against them. It is an honor to compete with them."

As for advice for aspiring footballers, Tiago says, "Follow your dreams and never give up. You will need everything. This is the path for happiness." He also hopes that football will continue to grow and become one of the biggest sports in the country.

Notable attendees from the event included members of the official Real Madrid supporters club in the country, Pena Madridista Filipinas, former Philippine internationals James Younghusband and Stephan Schroeck, as well as former Chooks Pilipinas 3x3 standout and current Meralco Bolts baller Franky Johnson.

Philippines Football League commissioner Coco Torre was also present, as well as representatives from the Philippine Football Federation and officials from the Spanish Embassy graced the proceedings.

The watch party was the latest event LaLiga conducted in the country, as it continues its efforts to help grow the game and provide a positive impact to both individuals and communities.

"We believe that the appreciation and interest for football is increasing among Filipinos. It’s a great sport that brings people together that’s why we will continue to bring exciting events for the Filipino fans," LaLiga delegate to the Philippines Almudena Gomez notes.

She adds, "LaLiga is more than just football. We go beyond what the sport has to offer to give back to the community."

The league recently held a gala dinner called Heroes Off the Pitch, honoring athletes and organizations for their contributions in helping grow sports in the country.

As for the game, El Derbi de Madrid finished with a 1-1 draw, with both goals coming in the second half.

Atleti overcame Angel Correa's red card in the 64th minute with a Jose Gimenez goal 14 minutes later, but Alvaro Rodriguez scored the equalizer in the 85th minute.

Fans can watch LaLiga through beIN Sports, both through cable television via Sky or Cignal, as well as online through beIN connect or the Setanta Sports platform.