Fear and trepidation, rather than excitement and thrills, may be gripping fans as Europe's domestic soccer leagues resume this weekend in the wake of deadly terror attacks in Paris.
Eleven doves of peace were released and a minute's silence was observed ahead of Paris Saint-Germain's first match since the attacks that killed 130 people last week.
Fans waved French tricolor flags and then joined players, match officials and coaching staff in a searing rendition of the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise," before Lorient's home match against Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.
One banner inside Le Moustoir stadium featured a giant Eiffel Tower, while another read: "La France Souffre Mais Ne Meurt Pas" — "France Is Suffering But Not Dying."
Security measures were stepped up in wake of last week's attacks, which began with explosions outside Stade de France — where France was playing Germany — and carried on with shootings elsewhere in the city.
Both adults and children were stringently searched entering the stadium, although the atmosphere seemed to be one of calm and cooperation.
Spanish authorities, meanwhile, declared Saturday's game between Real Madrid and Barcelona a high-risk event with unprecedented security measures at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
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Following meetings, officials said nearly 1,500 private security agents and at least 1,000 police officers will be on site — double the usual presence for high-risk games.
The safety net will stretch far, as there will be several security zones in place outside the stadium to keep those without tickets away from the 81,000-capacity venue.
Security officials are confident that the measures will be enough to guarantee safety and have asked fans to trust their local police.
The Bernabeau should be well prepared, if previous experience is anything to go by, since it has been targeted by extremists in the past.
In May 2002, a bomb from Basque separatist group ETA exploded near the venue hours before a Champions League semifinal against Barcelona, slightly injuring 17 people.
In 2004, the stadium was evacuated because of a bomb threat late into a game against Basque side Real Sociedad.
