When you approach the stadium
on match days there is a real
buzz in the air with fans of all
ages making their way to the all-
seater stadium, the famous Nou
Camp, which can hold up to
98,000 spectators. Football is
family entertainment in Spain
and the fans may consist of die
hard supporters in the 20s,
middle-aged couples,
grandparents with their
grandchildren, kids birthday
parties - you can see it all.
And when the match kicks off
that excitement spills over and
becomes uncontainable. The
passion and excitement create
an atmosphere that is electric -
and if you're a football fan going
to see Barça play is a must,
particularly at the moment with
such a great and successful
team.
The 2010-11 season was an
extraordinary one for FC
Barcelona despite not achieving
the treble of 2009 - the Copa del
Rey went to arch rival Real
Madrid instead. We're currently
off season as far as league
football goes, the period in
which football fans look forward
to the start of the new season,
while non-fans feel relieved at
the break.
After the 2010 World Cup, which
had an impressive tally of Barça
players in the lineup for the final
including new signing David
Villa, the players were really fired
up for the start of the season.
That translated into win after
win with a huge goal tally and
even Real Madrid, a team never
to be underestimated, was
demolished against the might of
Barcelona, who completely
humiliated them with a 5-0 win
at the Santiago Bernabeu
stadium in November.
For a time scoring 5 goals
seemed to be par for the course
but they peaked with an 8-0
away win against America. Of
course that kind of run could not
last, but it does show how much
Barcelona dominated the season.
One of the keys to Barcelona's
success is the high possession
and undoubtedly high fitness
levels of the squad to maintain
that. Their game is beautiful to
match, consisting of pass after
pass while they control the pace
and position of the ball; and
when an opportunity opens up it
is the trinity of Xavi, Iniesta and
Messi that often makes things
happen.
Lionel Messi in particular is
something to watch with some
moments of completely sublime
football. While not everything he
does works out, at least it is
good to watch and what he can
do with the ball seems
sometimes to be magic.
Of course all that is appreciated
by Barcelona's fans, or Cules as
they are known. Matches often
take place in a party like
atmosphere as great play and
hopefully great results melt
away everyone's problems in
life into the background for the
90 minutes of play for what for
some is a quasi religious
experience.
You can experience the
atmosphere and excitement of
the Nou Camp too by buying FC
Barcelona Tickets online. That
way you avoid disappointment
and get to see one of the best
football teams in the world
today.