FC Barça is back
Football Club Barcelona set the city ablaze as the Catalan giants sweep Spain yet again.
‘Los Culés’
Back to back thrashings hand delivered by both the Men’s and Women’s teams to seal the league titles with games still to play.
One side of Catalunya living in ecstasy while the other half – Espanyol – dealing with the five stages of grief after being delivered a tough blow knocking them deeper into their relegation battle by their rivals.
Although the Espanyol fans may have cut the FCB celebrations short on their home field, a quick metro ride to Plaça Catalunya would show no sign of stopping the energy of the Blaugranas raging rampantly through the streets.
La Rambla
However, leading up to the match the streets had a peculiar vibe. It was hard to tell it was even a FC Barcelona game day as the men’s squad geared up to play their rivals RCD Espanyol on Sunday, May 14th.
I thought to myself “Is football culture dead in Barcelona? How could that be possible?”
La Rambla, one of the most famous streets in Barcelona should be packed on a game day where the potential is to clinch the league title for the first time in four seasons, yet it was soulless.
There were only four kits in sight as I walked the street, completely empty bars, no chants to be heard or flags to see waving through the air, and the pub we went to didn’t even bother to put the game on their biggest screen.
We couldn’t believe it, but the game kicked off, and the energy of the city creeped out with each goal bagged by Barcelona.
In classic form, Lewandowski opened the scoring for FCB and the coolest Jules Kounde closed the tab at 4-0 putting Barcelona out of reach of Espanyol despite their late efforts to bring the game back.
With each goal, the cheers and chants became louder and more passionate.
The final whistle blew, and the Culers rejoiced as they were crowned champions of Spain for the first time since Messi’s departure from the club.
We stepped out of the pub, and the once empty and bland La Rambla began bleeding Blaugrana. Eager ultras who weren’t at the game had already set the scene for the fans to come.
Vibe
A euphoric sight. Footy culture here is not dead.
The night was unlike anything I have ever experienced before.
Hundreds of fans rushed to the street as the celebrations were just getting started. The ultras climbed light poles and street signs to raise the ‘Champions’ flag to the sky and lead the Catalan choir in chants.
Every fan popping out in their best Barcelona gear. One hundred-year anniversary jerseys, Guardiola, Maradona, and Koeman kits, scarves reading ‘El millor Barça de la historía’ (The best Barça in history), and flags strung through the air and tied around fans' backs assembled a sea of blue and red sent waves around the city.
Hundreds turned to thousands as the street turned into a warzone . A scene that sent a chill down your spine.
Smoke bombs infusing the area blue and red, fireworks shattering the night sky, flares sending sparks into the crowd, and the Culer army screaming “Barça! Barça! Barça!” at the top of their lungs.
The chants rang through the souls of everyone in the crowd and joined us as one. Sparks flew through the street and burnt my Barça kit leaving a battle scar and a memory that will last a lifetime. A hole that will forever remind me of the beautiful chaos that ensued on Sunday, May 14th.
The night fell to morning with no sign of the army slowing down, and what else would you expect than for a rondo to break out in the midst of the chaos? Scoops, flicks, and pannas accompained by the crowds’ “ole” put a smile on everyone’s face who got a touch.
Oh, and the streets haven’t forgotten their beloved Messi. Fans chanting “Meeessi. Meeeessi. Meeeessi.” as his name rang through the night and into the next day.
‘Antimadridistas’
The team parade, begun at 6pm leaving the Camp Nou as we awaited the buses’ arrival at the historical arches of Arc de Triomf. Arriving early you could sense the passionate scenes that were to ensure. Fans of all different ages, genders, and cultural backgrounds coming together over the shared love for the Catalan giants.
Thomas Chuaqui who is a study abroad student this semester had this to say about the chance to experience this moment:
"As an American soccer fan, the culture around soccer in Europe was always something I envied. Seeing the festivities when Barcelona won the league were exactly what I was hoping for when coming to a country with amazing football culture. Seeing the city come together and celebrate like that was amazing and I’m so grateful I was able to be a part of it".
The streets filled with ‘Antimadridistas’ that lead the entire group through chants and spread the Blaugrana love. Squatting down low, silencing the street, to explode like a cork out a champagne bottle chanting “Boti, Boti, Boti! Madridista qui no boti eh, eh!” (Jump, jump, jump! Madridista, whoever doesn’t jump, eh, eh!).
Neverending Story
From one generation to the next the love must be passed on.
Strong leaders created core memories for the young culers. One ‘Antimadridista’ saw a young boy eager to get in the mix, but a bit too shy to leave his mother. He went over to him and spoke with him for a moment before getting him out to the middle of the street to start the “Blaugrana al vent.
Un crit valent. Tenim un nom el sap tothom: Barça, Barça, Baaarça!” (Blue and claret blowing in the wind. One valiant cry. We’ve got a name that everyone knows: Barça, Barça, Baaarça!) chant.
From shy to the center of attention the boy was freed by Blaugrana. Locked in as a fan for life through moments like these as his hands left his sides and waved through the sky with his face permanently stuck with the biggest smile.
The street filled and filled as fans resorted to climbing the street signs and stoplights to find the best view of the parade.
Leading chants as they looked out upon a sea of Culers. Waves of dancing and jumping fans crashed and spread love through the street for hours as each fan held the one next to them.
The hours passed until the Blaugrana sea was parted by the police as Xavi led the busses through their final destination.
Stiched Together
We were smashed against each other trampling everyone around as the Men’s and Women’s teams passed through returning the love to their city that hasn’t stopped celebrating them.
The peak of the night as the busses rolled through and every fan had not a care in the world but sending the team every bit of loving and joyous energy that was brought to them by each team this season.
Everyone so proud to see the women bring the title home for the fourth season in a row, and the men win their first title in four seasons to sweep the rest of Spain and be crowned King and Queen.
‘Los Campeones. Campeones. Campeones. Visca Barça’.
