Marie's Barcelona F.C. Page
26 SEPTEMBER 1998, NOU CAMP STADIUM, BARCELONA.
BARCELONA Vs CELTA DI VIGO - FlRST DIVISION.
Old Trafford, Elland Road, they have nothing on Nou Camp, Barcelona. Seating a mere 120,000 people at any one time, awesome is simply a word too small to signify the awe-inspiring rush of adrenaline that one experiences at such a sight.
Allow me to set the scene for you raving football fans out there. A clear summers evening in Eastern Spain, still a glimmer of daylight at eight o' clock and the humming tone of people arriving. The sprinkler system is activated on the pitch in preparation for the game and the white lines are being touched up (Do they do that in England, 1 hour before kick off! I think not).
By eight thirty the stadium is filling up nicely. The home team (Barca) are running out on to the pitch for warm up, followed by the away team (Celta) from the opposite entrance. There's a rush of excitement and cheers from the crowd at such a grand entrance from both sides.
It was quite noticeable to me how civilised the Spanish are with regards to football. There were no specific seating arrangements for home/away fans. Barca fans were sitting near or next to Celta fans and vice versa. A lone Celta fan sat in the middle of a crowd of Barca fans just below my seat, without a care or worry for safety. Would you dare be a lone away supporter sitting in the middle of the home fans at a British match?
Nine o'clock - KlCK OFF. The whistle blows and the game begins. My whole being seemed to be animated by my surroundings and the sights of the players that I almost missed the start!
Barca are fighting hard for control of the ball, its amazing how fast they move up and down the pitch, it's hard to believe the size of the pitch, the T.V. makes it look half the size, but then again the T.V. makes everything look smaller. Barca have the ball and are heading for the goal, so close and yet so far as Celta's defence step in and change the course.
Determined and strong Barca are back. The tension rises, fingers are crossed and in a split second, if you blink you are sure to miss it, Barca score the first goal of the game. The crowd jumps up in glory, cheering, banners fly (Celta fans cry). The atmosphere was truly magnificent. Barca 1-0
Both teams find the net to make the score 2-1 to Barca and approaching the final whistle, Celta score their second goal, to make the final score 2-2 draw.
NEXT STOP A.C. MILAN!!
