Why are Barcelona wearing yellow against Atlético?
The leaders took to the pitch wearing their yellow fourth strip even though they were the home team.
It’s a big day Barcelona - victory against Atlético Madrid at Camp Nou this afternoon would restore the Blaugrana’s 11-point lead in LaLiga with eight games left to play. Xavi’s men have another good reason to seek victory today - Sant Jordi (Diada de Sant Jordi - St George’s Day) is being celebrated all over the Catalunya region. While it is not an official holiday, Sant Jordi is an important day in the Catalan calendar. A feast day, it is celebrated every year on 23 April, the date on which it is believed the saint died, as a martyr in the 4th Century.
FC Barcelona will be celebrating the occasion with a number of events in and around Camp Nou. As part of the celebrations, the team took to the pitch for this afternoon’s clash with Atleti wearing their third strip - the kit which features the Senyera flag colours - yellow with red stripes. Obviously, as the home team, Barça could have just worn their classic claret and blue first kit. Alternatively, they could have opted for their second kit - gold, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of when the city staged the Olympic Games, replete with a motif depicting a street map of the Condal City. Or, the third strip - the pale grey strip incorporates the cross of Saint George in claret and blue.
In the end, it was decided to go for the fourth kit as part of the campaign organised by Òmnium and Catalunya’s Union of Sports Federations (UFEC) which aims to promote sport and cultural activities in the region.
Sant Jordi also coincides with World Book Day, celebrated annually on 23 April - to commemorate the date of William Shakespeare’s death and that of Miguel de Cervantes on 22 April. In Catalunya, it is a long-standing custom for couples to exchange gifts - men usually receive a book and the women receive a rose.