FC Barca Game

On February 7th, the CEA group took a trip to the FC Barcelona game vs. Getafe. This was one of the experiences that I had been looking forward to ever since I knew I was coming to Barcelona. FC Barca is regarded as one of the premier soccer clubs in the world. As we were walking to the stadium, I realized that I was the only person not wearing any FC Barca attire, so I bought a great scarf from one of the local street vendors. As we preceded into the stadium, the anticipation began to mount. We were so excited to get there that we ended up in our seats an hour before the game began. We watched from our upper level seats as the stadium began to fill to capacity. Shortly before game time, the FCB squad ran out on the field and the crowd erupted into applause. The game began and we were all screaming along with the locals, excited for our new team… FC Barcelona. In the first half, Messi scored a beautiful goal; he is truly one of the quickest athletes that I have ever seen on. In the second half, Xavi scored a goal on a beautiful assist. After the second goal, the stadium was truly deafening as the crowd erupted into ecstatic celebration. The game ended in a 2-0 romping of Getafe, as FCB looked like the powerhouse that it truly is. We left the game celebrating the win with all the locals as we were hearded into the most crowded subway station that I have experienced in Barcelona.
In our sport and culture class, we discuss the significance of the soccer in the European culture. After having been to many sporting events in the United States, it is true that soccer takes a much more serious role in the lives of the people in Europe. I will always remember my FCB game as one of the most intense sporting experiences that I have ever been a part of. My expectations were more than met, they were exceeded. The only negative experience that I had from the entire game was the Henry did not play, who is one of my favorite players in the world. Regardless, FC Barcelona is one of my favorite sporting teams in the entire world and I will cheer for them long after I head back to the United States.