| Football in Spain, much as it is in England, is undoubtedly | | | | insight into the two clubs glittering histories and also a |
| the national game with a passion for the sport that can | | | | chance to see the changing rooms - where most |
| only be matched in a handful of countries around the | | | | Spanish schoolboys dream of sitting one day. |
| world. Spain's La Liga (Spain's premier football league | | | | As you could imagine, the rivalry between Barcelona |
| for those not in the know) is regarded in many circles | | | | and Real is massive and when they play the match is |
| as the best in Europe and the international team have | | | | simply known in Spain as "El Derby", it is the biggest |
| been tipped to bring home some silverware from a | | | | sporting fixture in the Spanish calendar and is quite |
| major tournament for a long time (I might add they've | | | | possibly the most fiercely contested (and supported) |
| yet to oblige the nation). Taking all of this into account | | | | domestic match in all of football. There's even more to |
| football is clearly tied in heavily with Spain's cultural | | | | play for this season as Barcelona ended Madrid's |
| fabric. To watch a game and to gauge the day to day | | | | dominance by claiming La Liga (Spain's premier football |
| news and debate is to sample something of Spain and | | | | league for those not in the know) for the first time |
| its people firsthand. There aren't many social areas | | | | since 1999. Madrid will be looking for revenge this |
| which football doesn't permeate; whether it's digesting | | | | season and have brought in some exciting new |
| the sports pages in a café, catching a game in a | | | | players to try and reignite their title challenge. |
| bar or kids in the streets and playgrounds emulating | | | | One excellent indicator of how big football is in Spain |
| the feats of their heroes. | | | | (and particularly at these two clubs), is just how much |
| The two most famous clubs are Barcelona and Real | | | | pressure is heaped on players and managers alike by |
| Madrid, the latter having been regarded as the best | | | | supporters and the media when results don't go their |
| team in the world for the last few years. With squads | | | | way. Club boards can be exceedingly fickle and the |
| reading like a who's who of international football the | | | | way in which club presidents are actually elected by |
| clubs boast some of the best players from around the | | | | the season ticket holders, gives the fans a lot more |
| globe. Football in Spain is a big deal and the stadia, | | | | power as those running the club have, to some extent, |
| which constitute major tourist sites in both cities, | | | | to respond to their demands and whims to keep their |
| certainly reflect this passion; the Nou Camp stadium in | | | | popularity. For these reasons La Liga is probably the |
| Barcelona has a capacity of 100,000 whilst the | | | | toughest European league to manage in and most |
| Bernabeu stadium in Madrid boasts a capacity of close | | | | clubs have an alarmingly high turnover of head |
| to 90,000 and both are amongst the largest in the | | | | coaches. It's certainly a cut-throat business and an |
| world. Visitors to the cities should certainly consider as | | | | area in which the Spaniards are partisan, extremely |
| tour of the stadiums for a chance to see just how big | | | | passionate and always have an opinion. |
| they are. Both also offer excellent museums offering | | | | |