FOOTBALL superstars Real Madrid touched down at Bournemouth Airport at 11.30am today ready for tonight’s exhibition match against the Cherries.

The nine-time European Championship-winning team on a chartered flight with Iberia, Spain’s national airline, and left the airport by the front doors to board coaches to the Haven Hotel in Sandbanks.

Some 30 fans gathered along barriers hoping to get a glimpse of top rank stars including Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká, as well as managers Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane.

Sadly the team had time for waves but not autographs as they hurried past to their air-conditioned coaches.

Among the fans was Justin Perrett of Iford, with youngsters Lucy, 11, and William, eight. He said: “We wanted to come up here as it is just part of the excitement of it all, the biggest team coming to little Bournemouth.

“And William really wanted to see Ronaldo before the match later. The club has done a great job getting the ground ready for the game.”

Liz Curtis from Burton was at the barriers with her husband Barry, who works at the airport, and sons Adam, 16, and Craig, 14.

“It’s not every day your team is playing the biggest club, it puts Bournemouth on the map,” she said. “It is all coming together for the Cherries, I doubt they would have come today if we hadn’t been promoted.”

The match kicks off at the Goldsands Stadium at 7.45pm tonight.