Thoughts ahead of a distinctly politicised Clásico
This edition of El Clásico, which both Barcelona and Real Madrid go into level on points, has been tarnished by a problem which unfortunately, can’t be ignored. Some blame the decision to reschedule the match, but if I remember correctly the platform Tsunami Democratic already had some kind of protest planned for the original date. But the game will go ahead today - amid rumours that protestors are planning to block the access points to the stadium. It means that Barça players won’t travel to the ground in their own cars, as they usually do. They wil have lunch then take a siesta at Hotel Sofía (formerly known as the Reina Sofía Hotel), the same hotel where Real Madrid will be staying – Zidane's squad will make their way there as soon as they land in Barcelona.
The journey from the team hotel to Camp Nou
Later on this evening, both teams will head to Camp Nou, more or less at the same time but I imagine by taking different routes. I would hazard a guess that the security measures in place for the journey to the stadium will consist of a kind of a Roman tortoise formation with both teams shielded in the centre as they travel those few hundred metres from the hotel to the ground. The first triumph of the night will be when both teams arrive safe and sound and on time. The next, that the game goes ahead as planned, without interruptions. Everything else will be down to the 22 players out on the pitch, whose only aim is to do everything possible to win the game - Messi, Benzema, Sergio, Piqué... great players, all of them.
El Clásico and football, the winners
It’s difficult to expect football to carry on as normal with other things, whether we approve of them or not, going on. El Prat airport will be closed, the high speed AVE train will only go as far as Girona, La Junquera motorway will be closed – as will be several roads including Via Laietana and Urquinaona Square. Can tonight’s Clásico at Camp Nou save the day? I really hope so. El Clásico is one of our greatest exports. Football is just the most important part of the little things in life. It doesn’t offer solutions but brings us lots of happiness. Just like the ancient games in Olympia, every Clásico deserves a truce. But those who baited [Catalan politician Gabriel] Rufián during a recent demonstration are far from thinking that way.