Champions League: Fans head home after Cardiff final

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Many Real Madrid fans spent the night partying after the game

Thousands of fans have returned home after Cardiff hosted the Champions League final.

Up to 170,000 people were in the city on Saturday to see Spanish holders Real Madrid beat Italy's Juventus 4-1 in the world's biggest club football match.

South Wales Police arrested three people over ticket touting.

The force said its presence at the last day of the Champions League Festival on Sunday would stay "significant" following the London terror attack.

Image source, Getty Images
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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale lifts the trophy in his home city

Image source, AFP
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Juventus fans looked despondent following their side's Champions League defeat

A 35-year-old from Napoli was arrested on Friday after a tip-off from an off-duty Italian officer and he will appear before city magistrates on Monday.

On Saturday, two other men, aged 32 and 28, were arrested on suspicion of fraud after being found with four tickets and a significant quantity of money. They remain in police custody.

Meanwhile, South Wales Police said there would still be a large number of officers in the city following the terror attack in London, as the Champions League festival is still running until 17:00 BST on Sunday.

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Lewis said: "The UCL festival continues and we would like to reassure people that plans in place for today remain significant and people will continue to see a large police presence throughout Cardiff."

Most roads have reopened following wide-scale closures, external in the build-up to the final.

Image source, Reuters
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Some city centre bars only had room to watch the match from outside

Cowbridge Road East and Castle Street will remain closed until Monday, but will Lloyd George Avenue and the immediate roads around the Champions Festival in Cardiff Bay, which ends on Sunday, will be open by 22:00 BST.

Organisers said more than 60,000 fans went to the festival on Thursday and Friday with another capacity crowd flooding in on Saturday.

Supporters of Juventus and Real Madrid mixed in a friendly atmosphere at the festival in Cardiff Bay on Saturday afternoon ahead of the game's big kick-off at the National Stadium of Wales.

Most flights back to Italy and Spain left Cardiff and Bristol overnight while those using trains had waits of up to 45 minutes after the match.

Image source, FLIGHTRADAR
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Flights departing Cardiff and Bristol Airports overnight

Cardiff council leader Huw Thomas said: "Holding such a prestigious event as this will have a long-lasting legacy for the Welsh capital. This was the biggest sporting event in the world in 2017 and was broadcast to 200 countries.

"From the champions festival to the wonderful atmosphere created in the city centre and the stadium - it all goes to show - Cardiff offers something which is distinctive and truly unique."