A Night at the Camp Nou

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Just back from Barcelona, which was why there have been no posts here for a couple of days.  Highlight, and indeed purpose of the trip, was Wednesday evening in the Camp Nou, alongside 97,999 others to watch FC Barcelona draw 0-0 with AC Milan and make it through to the Champion's League Final, which will take place on the 17th May in Paris, and will be against Arsenal.

Going to watch a match at the Camp Nou had long been a dream of mine, and to get the opportunity for a European Cup Semi Final against one of the other great names of European football was absolutely brilliant.  From the atmosphere outside the stadium before the match, to the celebrations that no doubt went long into the night, it was an experience that I'll never forget.

It was, throughout the match, very tense.  Despite that Barca are undoubtedly one of the giants of European football, they have only won the European Cup once, in 1992 against Sampdoria at Wembley.  They reached the final again in 1994, only to be beaten 4-0 by the same club they were playing on Wednesday.  It never fails to amaze me that Nottingham Forest (no disrespect intended) have won the European Cup more times than Barcelona, hopefully something that will change in Paris.

Even though the game was 0-0, it was hard fought and entertaining.  Barcelona looked nervous going into the last twenty minutes, but this AC Milan side seems to have reached the end of their run…despite the fact that they only needed one goal to level the tie, the expected onslaught on the Barca goal in the last minutes never really materialised.

It didn't stop the locals getting themselves into a nervous frenzy in the final minutes, and it was a very strange feeling to be sitting amongst thousands of people in what was such an intense communal moment, and being outside of it…but the roar which greeted the final whistle, and the burst into their songs as the players celebrated on the pitch was enough to draw me in and cause a shiver down my spine.

And the result also sets up a final between two of the 'purest' footballing sides in European football.  Although I would like Barcelona to win, I would also be very happy for Arsene Wenger if he was to lift Europe's biggest club prize.  Despite supporting a different side in the English league, some of the teams Wenger has created have produced sublime football during his time at Highbury, and it looks as if he has already begun the process of creating a third great team, despite a relatively poor showing in the league this year.  If anyone deserves old big ears it's Wenger…and maybe it will help keep Henry in the Premiership as well.

It promises to be a great final - although often those that promise the most deliver the least - and the perfect warm up for the World Cup.  My heart, after Wednesday, is with Barcelona…but for once the old cliche sounds about right: Let the best team win.

On the Atari DJ Tapedeck: 'Pick Up The Pieces', Average White Band

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