Although picking up our pre-ordered tickets was rather harder than expected, we decided to also take in some local culture on match-day. Whilst hunting for the correct place to pick-up our tickets we took in the areas of Barcelona around the Camp Nou – it was a buzz of excitement and the ticket area outside the stadium was busy with punters looking to purchase last minute tickets.
The game in question was classified ‘Grade 2’, a minor detail of Barcelona vs. Getafe. A win would close the gap at the top of La Liga to 1 point. A near sell out crowd was expected and we were delighted to have pre-booked our tickets rather than fight the crowds on the day.
Once we picked up our tickets, a visit to the Barcelona store was in order. Although I had been to the 'club shop' before, myself and the others were blown away as soon as we stood inside the building. Covering 2 levels is an array of merchandise for the fans, visitors and corporate attendees to buy. Stock ranges from the brand-new, latest kits with printing and competition labels to a baby’s dummy, if you could think of it, they sold it…. Ever fancied a 24inch flat screen TV with built in DVD player in Barcelona colours? Yep, it’s in the store.
Anyway, I digress. As you set foot in the store, you’re greeted by a large Barcelona crest with manikins sporting the latest home and away kits in a semi-circle, arching around a large set of stairs. The top floor is a mass of replica shirts – all the latest, all this years. Wherever you look kids are grabbing Messi, Iniesta and Xavi shirts, begging their parents to part with the frankly disgusting price of €99 (adults) or €79 (kids). In comparison to English club shirts, this is incredibly high.
Heading down to the 2nd floor, you are welcomed by the famous statement “'més que un club”. Not even half-way down the stairs and more replica kits are the first thing you see, a TV is playing clips of the Barcelona football and basketball squads whilst above is a gold F.C. Barcelona emblem on a dark wooden background. As you look around the 2nd floor, you see the quite spectacular floor-space the shop takes over. More merchandise is available, this time taking in previous kits, or kits with no names, numbers or badges. (Also, an interesting rail of shirts is spotted – the miss-prints and the errors. For some reason, a shirt with Bert #10 is hanging here; we wondered when Bert was planning to make his debut for the mighty Barcelona).
The shop continues to offer scarves, a varying size of footballs, photos, calendars and much more. As common with most football shops now-a-days, an in-house number printing is offered and many buyers are opting for this. An interesting feature that caught my eye is that Barcelona sell the Under Armour to match the home kit in their store – a crafty ploy for the eager child who wants the whole package. After taking all this in, some of the guys decided to purchase shirts (not the €99 ones I’m pleased to say!) and we moved on, wishing that time would speed up as we were eager to return for the game.
As kick-off time loomed we head to the stadium. The underground metro is rather quiet until the stop closest to the stadium – other foreign fans here for the day are easily spotted, but the crowds are mostly locals. We leave the station and wander down the streets mingling in the crowd. Beer is available to buy all the way up to the stadium and people are offering cans to anyone that passes. Street vendors are selling shirts, scarves and are selling them in large numbers. We stopped at a stall outside the stadium which sells official merchandise – the lads who didn’t buy a shirt in the stadium buy one now caught up in the buzz. For the first time in my life, I saw a street stall that did name printing – not missing the opportunity, names were printed – Xavi and Piqué proving popular.
We enter the stadium and take our seats, only to be told we are sitting in the wrong place as some disgruntled Barca season ticket holders pointed out to us in very broken English. Failing to find are actual seats, we asked a steward, who was very helpful and showed us were to go. Sitting in the 2nd tier behind one of the goals gave us a fantastic view of the whole pitch.
The teams came out to warm up with Barcelona not really doing much. They pinged a few passes between them in groups of 3, did a little jog. High 5s for everyone and then went back in to prepare. The announcer read out the teams, no-one from Getafe got booed; everyone from Barcelona got a big cheer (no prizes for guessing who got the biggest cheer).
The teams lined up and we sat watching the end that Victor Valdes would defend in the first half. Immediately we saw how Barcelona was going to play – a dynamic 2-5-3 formation. Messi was allowed to drift were he pleased, Cuenca and Pedro performed the winger roles whilst Puyol and Adriano played as 2 of the most attacking full backs I’ve ever seen. The centre back partnership of Mascherano and Busquets was rarely challenged and were positioned mainly in the Getafe half. Xavi, Iniesta and Alexis Sanchez finished off the starting 11.
The game started at a frantic pace with Messi missing what seemed a guilt edged chance – however as we were at the wrong end, we gave him the benefit (later replays showed he probably should have scored). The first half flew by with the atmosphere building and chants seeming to be similar to an English game – a certain area starts them, everyone joins in and then it dies down as another starts. The score at half time was 2-0 to Barcelona, with goals from Alexis and Messi giving the home team a comfortable lead.
The second half was what we were waiting for – Barcelona, literally, attacking straight at us. Just as the 2nd half kicked off, the scoreboard showed a results which was greeted by a loud cheer, Osasuna 2 Espanyol 0. It appeared the local rivalry was still rather important.
Although the football was entertaining and warming, we were desperate for a goal as the wind had picked up and it had become incredibly cold. A women in front of us got hit by a puddle of water from the tier above which got a big cheer and laugh. The chants continued and seem to become more ferocious with every Barcelona attack. Eventually a sublime header from Alexis Sanchez gave us the goal we were so desperately waiting for. Messi swung in a free-kick and Sanchez performed a backward directed header which looped over Moya and into the Getafe goal. The crowd around us went wild and we joined in. 3-0 Barcelona.
Barcelona seemed to have their tails up now and scored the 4th in a matter of minutes – Pedro grabbing it. Puyol seemed desperate to get a goal and as he was rarely needed to perform his defence duties, he ventured up the pitch like a right winger. He eventually came close with a header which was well saved by Moya.
With the game dead and buried at 4-0, Barcelona took their foot of the gas and started to play some exhibition football. At one point Messi had 2 people on him, he cut through the middle of them and was faced by another defender, a quick turn of pace beat this 3rd man taking him to the by-line. Knocking the ball round a 4th man and using his unbelievable agility, he went round the other side of the helpless defender. Literally standing on the by-line the keeper came rushing out; Messi scooped the ball over his head going for goal. The Getafe defenders could only stand and watch as the ball hit the bar and deflected to safety – denying Messi what would have been a truly outstanding goal.
As the final whistle went, the crowds took some last minute photos and then headed for the exits. Even the exiting crowds were a sight like nothing I've really seen. Swarms of people outside the stadium in one of the most organised bits of chaos ever witnessed. Again, beer was offered, we found a restaurant that was open and popped in for some food. Whilst eating, the TV was on and we found ourselves watching the game back and commenting on everything – as a side note, if you think SKY are bad for going over incidents, Spanish TV showed one little incident at least 20 times. We finished our beers and headed home.
Overall the atmosphere was brilliant, the buzz before the game was huge and the enthralling way Barcelona play football is always going to be good to watch. The lack of away support did nothing to dampen the mood with the Barca crowd always making some sort of noise.
And of course, we saw the best player in the world. In my opinion, he had an off day, he looked lazy and disinterested – but, even in this sort of mood, Messi scored one and assisted another and produced some unbelievable pieces of skill.
It was a great trip and something that I would recommend any football fan to do and the sooner the better before the likes of Xavi and Iniesta retire. My one disappointment is that I didn't get to see David Villa play due to his injury - But, I think I can live with that.
Dave
