I completed the first leg of my pilgrimage, with the El Clasico live, a major tick off my bucket list and now will proceed to watch some top class UEFA Champions League quarter-final games live.
My last blog focused on the pre-Clasico buzz all over Barcelona, this one captures the night beyond the on field 90 mins.
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The overall result
While Barcelona’s loss and the end of their 39-match unbeaten streak may seem like a disappointing day for me but it wasn’t. In fact, I was happy, The match got its deserving winners and this loss will remain etched in memory longer.
Often Barcelona games, on TV, turn into a bore-fest after the first half of any game, by which time they take 2-0 leads and keep two-thirds of possession.
Many expected this game to be a mauling too. I could hear a lot of locals abusing during the last third of the game, possibly frustrated with losing money. I don’t mind the loss as it hardly affects the title race and having experienced the ecstasy of going ahead (1-0), got the experience of the loss and how the environment in the stadium changes.
Entering the temple
There was a tremendous buzz around the Nou Camp, the largest stadium in Europe, as 99000+ people made their way in. There were stalls outside selling club merchandise, bugles, horns, banners and massive expectations of a win.
The tribute
Amongst the big match occasion, the club left no stone unturned in pouring never-ending tributes to Johan Cryuff. There was a 14-page newspaper featuring anything and everything about Cryuff handed out free to all coming in.
A tribute video and a minute’s silence before the game was followed with spectators standing up to acknowledge the great man’s jersey number after 14 minutes of the game.
The glitter and the magic
I entered the stadium around daylight and after last rays of the sun. The brilliant lights of the world’s second largest football stadium provided a memorable experience.
Many a time, I wasn’t looking at the game but just taking in the atmosphere, the people, the colours, the noise, the Catalan slogans and trying to join them as much as I could. Here are some pictures linked to the cheers in the stadium.
Thank you for reading this. Look out for Part 8 of my football pilgrimage where I will be expecting Barcelona to beat Atletico Madrid in a feisty encounter. The Catalans looked tired in the El Clasico as the international break had an effect on their players a lot more than on the Real Madrid team.
Hope all such lethargy is shrugged off and the successive season treble attempt stays on track.
