Visiting football fans have been letting off fireworks in the city centre tonight before their team's clash with Manchester United.
Spanish side Real Betis face Erik Ten Hag's Reds at Old Trafford in the first-leg of their Europa League last-16 tie tonight (Thursday).
The side from Seville in Andalusia in Southern Spain will be backed by an official allocation of 3,000 travelling fans with more believed to have made the trip.
And despite the thoroughly un-Mediterranean conditions they are making their presence felt with a large number of them have gathered in Exchange Square.
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They have congregated in and around the beer garden of Sinclairs Oyster Bar which is a favourite amongst European fans visiting the city.
Videos showed them making plenty of noise as they held up Spanish flags and waved scarves and flags in their colours of green and white and let off green smoke bombs.
Eyewitnesses said it also appeared fireworks had been lot off in the square giving some nearby shoppers a fright on.
United fan Thomas Mitchell said on Twitter: "Never seen so many away fans around Manchester! Seeing Betis fans since 7:45 this morning unbelievable turnout the weather hasn’t dampened there sprits!
"There will be many of their fans watching in bars nearby who couldn’t get tickets and who just want to be here. Well done Betis."
Tonight will be the first-ever meeting between United and Betis, who are managed by former City boss Manuel Pellegrini.
The Reds will be looking to quickly get over their 7-0 humbling at the hands of arch-rivals Liverpool on Sunday.
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