FC Barcelona

Barcelona. Saturday, 03.03.2012 20:00

Official FC Barcelona Package

In the 1986-87 season, Sporting Gijón achieved what is still their biggest ever away win the La Liga, and it was 4-0 away to Barça. That was some night for the Asturians, but the red and whites are far more used to receiving rather than inflicting heavy defeats at the Camp Nou. Sporting are one of the historic teams in Spain, being one of just nine clubs never to have been relegated any lower than the top two divisions, but in that time they have won no major honours despite producing some quality players thanks to a youth system that many consider worthy of comparison with Barcelona’s legendary Masia.

Barcelona. Wednesday, 07.03.2012 20:45

Official FC Barcelona Package

Barcelona. March 20th, 21st or 22nd 2012

Official FC Barcelona Package

At least on paper, this is a game to enjoy FC Barcelona at their very best. Granada, who returned to the top flight in 2011 after a 35 year absence, are not the kind of team you would expect to cause Barça too much trouble at the Camp Nou, and for the Andalusians it might be no more than a damage limitation exercise. They might fancy their chances of sneaking a draw, but if they concede a goal, they’ll need to take risks, and that’s then when things could start getting very interesting indeed. There are few sights more amazing in world football than FC Barcelona when they’re in full flow.

Barcelona. March 31st or April 1st 2012

Official FC Barcelona Package

Things don’t come much more historic than FC Barcelona against Athletic Club Bilbao. These are two of just three teams that have never been relegated from the top tier of Spanish football and between them have 47 cup and 27 league titles. And there’s a special bond between the two sides, for if Barça are the symbols of the Catalan separatist identity, then if anything Bilbao are even more so for the Basque Country. But while Barça proudly display their plethora of European, African and Latin American superstars, the ‘Lions’, even in this international day and age, still insist on only using players born or raised in the Basque Country.

Barcelona. April 10th, 11th or 12th 2012

Official FC Barcelona Package

At least on paper, this is game for sitting back and enjoying Barcelona’s classy football and plenty of goals against one of La Liga’s less glamorous sides. The side from Madrid had never played first division football before 2004, but have managed to hold their own quite nicely among the elite. One of Getafe’s finest hours was their 4-0 win over FC Barcelona in the 2007 Copa del Rey semi final, cancelling out Barça’s 5-2 win at the Camp Nou that including Leo Messi’s famous replication of Maradona’s wondergoal of 1986. There’s been a rivalry between the two clubs ever since.

Barcelona. April 21st or 22nd 2012

Special Package

The years of rivalry between the two giants of La Liga have produced one of the most fascinating soap operas in world sport. This game is about as big as football can get, featuring 22 of the finest players on the planet in a match drenched in history, producing tension that often reaches beyond the bounds of football and into the realms of history and politics, when Catalan separatism comes head to head with Spanish centralism. In recent years, Barcelona and Real Madrid have become so dominant in Spanish football that the outcome of the championship often depends on the result of this match. The country will come to a standstill once again for this. It’s not called the clásico for nothing.

Barcelona. May 01st, 02nd or 03rd 2012

Official FC Barcelona Package

Andalusian side Malaga are in town to take on the might of FC Barcelona, and it would take a brave man to bet on the visiting team’s chances here. But although the blue and whites have never formed part of the elite of Spanish football, they have been spending big money of late and harbour ambitions of creating a major stir in the Spanish footballing status quo. So although in the past they might have been content just to come to the Camp Nou and play for a draw, times have changed, and they’ll have their eye on getting all three points here. But most people would agree that that’s not really very likely.

Barcelona. May 05th or 06th 2012

Official FC Barcelona Package

Some say that there is such a gulf in class between these two teams that it lacks the spark of many of the other big city derbies in Europe. Don’t believe a word of it. What Espanyol lack in resources they more than make up with passion when they take on their world-conquering local rivals. And for Barcelona fans, this is not just about winning a football match, it’s also about getting the better of a club that they feel represents the unwanted Spanish influence in Catalonia, and a team they consider little more than Real Madrid in another guise. Most Espanyol supporters would probably beg to differ, but this match has all the ingredients of a classic encounter, and rarely fails to produce thrilling drama.