chronologically incorrect #2: Football Tourism - Champions League Semifinals Away Style

Way out of date - but I wanted to post the photos... especially now that the 2009-10 Champions league qualifying has officially started...

The UEFA Champions League might be the most fun football to watch (until the final, which gives up the home and away match aggregate score format for a one match final that is usually a defensive, plodding, careful match). Every team wants to qualify for the prestigious event (and the $$ that comes with it)... the only downside for me is that i have to hear this at least 5,349 times over a 8 month period.



seriously...

I found the following:
The UEFA Champions League theme song was performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and sung by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields chorus. It is an arrangement by Tony Britten of Georg Frideric Handel's "Zadok the Priest" from the Coronation Anthems.

so good for them... it still gets on my nerves.

The matches are great though. Last year my buddy Ben & I were able to see Chelsea v Juventus (Italy) at Stamford Bridge - and Chelsea v Barcelona at the famous Camp Nou (one of the most visited spots by tourists to the city)

-- We were given al of the traditional warnings before going (don't wear an away jersey in the streets (I do not have any jerseys - away or otherwise - so tick that box...), the environment will be 'charged' (see flares and smoke here):

the welcoming committee:

and that the stadium was large...and the away supporters seats were very high up (all true)

The stadium itself is pretty central Barcelona - we walked from the hotel... you go through a neighborhood and then it is just right there in the middle of it:

the away seats are so far away from the pitch to try to eliminate them from having any vocal impact that you get a great view of the surrounding hills, sea, airport... pretty much everything:

Drogba! - its a bit like saying "Newman" from Seinfeld...

We witnessed Chelsea clamping down on the prolific Barcelona offensive side to a 0-0 draw... Barcelona was dominant- however an away draw goes a long way in these events because the team was going home now with an advantage - and both sides supporters believed they were on their way to Rome for the final:
this is after they made us wait for at least 45 minutes after the game to allow 89,200 or so Barca fans leave... I call it "we're going to Rooooome"



We indeed were going to go to Rome to watch the final if Chelsea won the next one... instead Drogba was suspended for several 09-10 UEFA matches in the aftermath of that match... and we did not go to Rome (nor did Chelsea..)