Lisbon is reported to be on high alert for the Champions League final on Saturday at Estádio da Luz.
PSP police have said they will be using drones to watch the crowds, and sending out as many as 50 plain clothes ‘spotters’ to watch for troublemakers.
And while giants Atlético and Real Madrid limber up for the big game, hotels are reported to be fully booked and charging “exorbitant prices”, which has prompted enterprising locals to jump on the bandwagon and start renting out spare bedrooms.
SOL newspaper reports that many are even moving onto couches and camp beds so they can rent their own bedrooms, as apartments are being snapped up by visiting fans for as much as €5,000 for the weekend.
More than 60,000 spectators are expected for the big game, with well over half of them travelling from Spain.
As the countdown begins to what has been billed as the greatest sporting event in Portugal since the Euro 2004, restaurants, bars and cafés are all reported to be planning to stay open extra time, while traffic restrictions are already in place – and will remain so until May 30.
Photo: Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo is sure to draw a huge crowd of Portuguese supporters
