Madrid, Spain (CNN) Over $10,000 for a ticket, 12-hour journeys and nearly $9000 for accommodation.

In the sweltering sun, the Spanish capital's Plaza Mayor swells with a mix of red and white shirts. The atmosphere remains relaxed, but excitement crackles beneath the surface.

Pockets of fans spontaneously break out into song, some in homage to Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool's totemic defender, others are eulogizing Spurs captain Harry Kane.

Those in red are dreaming of a sixth European Cup, while Tottenham fans -- who last celebrated a piece of silverware in 2008 -- are in uncharted territory.

Authorities estimate that as many as 100,000 English supporters could descend on Madrid on Saturday alone.

With the Wanda Metropolitano -- the venue for Saturday's final -- holding only 68,000, that leaves tens of thousands of fans without a ticket. Some are hopeful, some are pessimistic. Others are desperate.

"A mate just sold one for £8,000 [$10,098] to a Tottenham fan," Paul, a Liverpool fan, tells CNN Sport. "In the Liverpool end!"

JUST WATCHED Klopp & Pochettino: A tale of two managers Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Klopp & Pochettino: A tale of two managers 04:36

Nine thousand flights are expected in the UK airspace on Friday, topping the previous record of 8,854 set in May last year.

NATS, the UK's leading provider of air navigation services, says that an additional 800 flights have been put on between Friday and Sunday in order to cater for the Champions League final, the first all-English final in over a decade.

Airlines and hotels have been widely criticized for raising prices for the weekend of the final, but shrewd football fans have found ways around the extortionate costs.

Owen, 24, fan of five-time winner Liverpool flew from the English city of Newcastle, 175 miles from his hometown Formby, to the Spanish island of Ibiza for a two-day layover, before arriving in Madrid on Thursday.

Despite booking the flights just 10 days ago, he says the return journey cost him just £78 [$98].

"I've been really savvy with how I do it," he told CNN. "When I was in the airport in Ibiza, I bumped into these two lads and I ended up staying in their hostel for two nights.

"Everyone was saying: 'You can't book a hostel because it will cost you €200 [$223] or €300 [$334] a night.' I walked in there, slept on the floor the first night for €10 [$11].

"In the morning, they said: 'Do you want to stay tonight for €10?' So I said: 'Yeah' and went and bought a blow up lilo."

While 4,000 tickets were available to all football fans worldwide via UEFA's website, Liverpool and Tottenham were each allocated 17,000 tickets. The remainder were allocated to the local organizing committee, footballing associations, commercial partners and broadcasters.

JUST WATCHED Rafa Benitez on Liverpool vs. Tottenham Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Rafa Benitez on Liverpool vs. Tottenham 02:57

According to reports, tickets are being sold for as high as $31,000 and despite making the journey out, Owen has no intention of going to the final.

"I haven't got a ticket and I haven't got three grand to buy one either," he says. "I don't want to go to the game, I'm old fashioned in the sense that if you pay ridiculous money for a ticket, you're the issue.

"These tickets are ridiculous prices anyway, some of them are up to €500 [$557] and that's just from the official site.

"These corporate hospitality events are killing the game. I don't agree with it. So, when you say what's your limit. Mine is €100 [$111]. When I go to Anfield, I pay 48 quid [$60] a ticket and that's a lot for me."

Liverpool fan Owen, 24 (bottom left), had a two-day layover in Ibiza to get to Madrid.

Another Liverpool fan, Danny, confidently bought flights to Madrid for £80 [$100] back in March when Liverpool beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League round of 16. He and two friends are crammed into one room to reduce the cost of accommodation.

"I'm on his floor ... another person will be in the bath," he laughs.

Friends Kenny and Paul, both 35, flew out together but only have one ticket between them.

"If I can't get him a ticket, mine is gonna get sold," Paul tells CNN. "I don't wanna leave him by himself, he's come with me."

DC to Madrid

While many fans from the UK have endured convoluted journeys to reach Madrid, Joe, 64, has traveled further than most.

A native of Washington DC, he became a fan of Tottenham Hotspur while living in London back in 1972.

He and fellow Spurs fan Chris met through a mutual friend at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the pair, along with 12 others, have split the cost of a £7000 [$8831] Airbnb over three nights.

Liverpool fans (left to right) Danny, Dan, Paul and Kenny, in Plaza Mayor in central Madrid.

Another member of their group, Callum, took a direct flight from London to Madrid but is flying back via Morocco. They all have season tickets at Spurs' new stadium and were fortunate enough to get tickets to the final at face value.

"All four of us have tickets to the game ... but not on us," Joe tells CNN. "Safely tucked away. We don't want to get mugged in the street!"

Matt, 23, has traveled to Madrid with his parents, Paul and Tara. The family avoided an expensive journey, flying via Milan and renting a farmhouse 50 minutes outside of Madrid, but arrived in Spain in hope of three tickets, rather than expectation.

"We've got people flying in from Tel Aviv tomorrow (Saturday) and how many tickets we've got, we don't know," Paul, 55, explains.

JUST WATCHED Could fear decide the Champions League final? Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Could fear decide the Champions League final? 00:56

The tickets he's been promised cost the face value £500 [$629], but Paul says he'd be prepared to pay up to £1,000 [$1,259].

If they only get one, there won't be a family feud to decide who goes to the Wanda on Saturday night.

"If we've only got one we'll give it to our son," he adds. "We'll see what we can do."