It’s a classic among classics, one of the European football fixtures that has generated most excitement over the past 20 years and is about to be relived this Wednesday night, March 14th, when Barcelona and Chelsea once again go head to head in the second leg of their last-16 match at Camp Nou. Few continental rivalries come anywhere close to arousing the passion and excitement and sheer drama that football fans around the world have experienced in the 18 years since the two teams first clashed in the Champions League all the way back in 2000.
Over the intervening years, the clubs have been drawn against one another no less than six times, with the last occasion being in 2012.
The resulting encounters have included three breath-taking comebacks, a multitude of unforgettably great goals, a manager (who else but the Special One?) that resorted to hiding in a laundry basket to escape detection by EUFA officials, one referee retiring while another had to be escorted out of England by police owing to fears for his safety, and a last-gasp winner as the nail-biting climax to a duel that was key to Barca’s first ever treble in 2009. As if all that were not enough, there is also the enigma surrounding seemingly unstoppable Lionel Messi’s inability to score against the London team in all those encounters despite having had no less than 29 shots on goal (including one missed penalty!).
Small wonder then that the eyes of the world will once again be glued to the screen this Wednesday when the two titans do combat one more. For those lucky enough to have secured a ticket to attend the game in the cauldron of football that is Camp Nou, it is sure to be a night to remember. On the last occasion they met at this hallowed mecca of soccer, in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final on April 25th 2012, no less than 95,000 spectators were there. So, whether you are a dyed-in-the-wool follower of the Blue Lions (or the Pensioners, as they used to be known), a culé, or simply a fan of the great game who wishes to witness one of its greatest spectacles along with the performance of the world’s best player at the top of his game, this is the ideal time to book a ticket and get on a plane to the Catalan capital.
While there, you can also take advantage of its many charms and top-class attractions. Among them, there are famous museums such as the Picasso Museum, the Centre of Contemporary Culture, the Miro Foundation and Tapies Foundation, and the Barcelona City History Museum with its Roman-era remains. Architecture buffs will revel in the world-famous works, both finished and unfinished, of the highly original Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudi.
His must-see buildings include the Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera/Casa Milo, La Casa Batllo and the surreal Casa/Parc Guell. Besides such cultural gems, a visit to the metropolis should also include some time shopping in any of the city’s 35,000 shops. Here you will find a wide range of stores selling “big-brand” items along with a plethora of specialty designer shops offering locally and nationally-made attire, shoes, jewellery and much more. Naturally, if you are a newcomer to the city, you will probably appreciate the local knowledge and experience offered by someone who knows the city inside out, someone who can guide you to the very best it has to offer in terms of wining and dining, shopping and entertainment. In that case, there is no better companion than one of the stunning high-class escorts supplied by barcelonaescorts.
Whether she accompanies you to the match itself, nestling up to you and cheering on your team, or simply provides you with the pre-or-post match experience that will make your sojourn in the city so memorable and agreeable, there really is no better way to visit Barcelona. So, if your “goal” in the next few days is to witness one of European football’s most thrilling encounters while enjoying all the very best this dazzling city has to offer, make a note right now to contact the agency’s director, Laura and book yourself the kind of companion who would make anyone’s “dream team”.
