Super Cup Fever Grips Macedonian Capital

Football fever has gripped the Macedonian capital Skopje as thousands of fans from all around the world arrived for the spectacle that will pit Real Madrid against Manchester United on Tuesday evening at Skopje's Filip II Arena.

With some 20,000 foreign visitors expected to attend the match, the city authorities have set up three 'fan zones' in the city centre, one for United fans, another for supporters of Real and a third, neutral one, which seems to have been getting the most attention.

Visitors to the neutral zone, located at the main Macedonia square have the opportunity to see the three UEFA trophies - the Champions League, Europa League and Super Cup trophy.

While they are waiting for the match, which begins at 8.45pm local time, fans in the neutral fan zone can enjoy one-on-one football games, penalty shootouts and freestyle football accompanied by music played by DJs and local pop stars.

"We have done everything we could so that fans see Skopje as the perfect place for the Super Cup," Skopje mayor Koce Trajanovski told media.

The most prominent venues for watching the match on giant screens will be located in the Old Bazaar district, along the Vardar river in the city centre and in Skopje's Bohemian Street, which is located in the Debar Maalo district, just five minutes' walk from the stadium.

Another venue open for visitors will be the beer festival dubbed 'Pivolend' which kicks off on Tuesday near the city fortress with an array of local and Balkan music.

"It feels great to be here. We just arrived and we are hyped already, we are excited to see all the greatest football stars in one place," one fan from Spain told BIRN at the main square on Monday.

"I hope that Manchester United will...