He had been in the stands to witness his beloved Cottagers compete in the quarter and semi-final matches of this year's Europa League competition, so it was no surprise that actor Hugh Grant made the trip to Hamburg, Germany for Wednesday night's final.
The game, however, turned out to be a difficult one for Hugh and the thousands of Fulham fans who had made the trip, as the team was defeated by Atletico Madrid. The British screen star, who once worked as a groundsman at Fulham's stadium Craven Cottage, sat with friends in an executive box and looked distraught as his team lost out in extra time.
Another devastated Fulham supporter who had come to cheer on her team was Lily Allen, who attended the match with her grandfather. Before arriving at the stadium, the singer tweeted about the game on her Twitter page, writing, "Come on you whites!" and later adding, "Oh my god. On my way to the ground. I'm too nervous. Arrrrrggghh!" And it seems Lily's nerves got the best of her. The Smile singer was noticeably upset by the loss and was spotted in the stands by TV cameras wiping away tears.
Still, not everyone was disappointed with the outcome. Spain's Prince Felipe has often supported his country's football teams and is a renowned Atletico fan. He appeared excited to take a break from official duties to be on hand for this year's thriller. The prince, who arrived in Hamburg just in time for the match, looked like any other enthusiastic supporter as he celebrated the Spanish team's goals with hugs and high-fives. Felipe, who sat with league officials, was also among the first to congratulate the Madrid team. He helped the UEFA president hand over the trophy and later stopped by the changing room to applaud the players for their effort.
