Barcelona houses, arguably, the best team in world football: FC Barcelona. It has a stunning strike force in Messi, Neymar and Suarez that can’t be compared with at any other club on the planet. Not only this, but the Camp Nou is Europe’s largest stadium with a capacity of just off 100,000. However, it is also home to another football team. RCD Espanyol might well be the city’s second club, but they too are in the Spanish top flight. Therefore, if you’re coming to Barcelona to watch a game of football, which one should you come to see? The answer may not be as simple as you think.
Tickets
FC Barcelona tickets are gold dust. The whole stadium is sold out to season ticket holders, and if any of them cannot go to a particular game, they sell their tickets on. So not only are there very few tickets per match in the first place, they also are incredibly expensive. For an El Classico game (FC Barcelona V Real Madrid) you will be looking at a ticket costing 400-500 euros minimum, and for a regular game, usually around the 100-150 euro mark. RCD Espanyol tickets are easy to obtain in comparison. There is normally quite a few on sale each match, and the prices are in the range of 25-50 euros, depending on the quality of the opposition. Being based in the city, we can buy you any tickets to a game, easily, securely and swiftly, and can even offer a guide to go with you.
The Experience
In terms of accessibility, both are very easy to get to from the city centre. There are bus and metro stations right outside both stadiums. This, however, is where the similarities end. The Camp Nou is a grand, old stadium that is world famous. When you walk through the entrance there is a ‘wow’ factor. However, some seats are so high up that it isn’t the best view in the world, even if it is an experience in itself to watch a game from the Gods. The Estadio Cornella-El Prat, in comparison, is a very new stadium finished only a couple of years ago. The seats have much more room than those at the Camp Nou, and each and every one has a great view of the pitch.
Secondly, even though there are vastly less Espanyol fans both in and out of the stadium, after years of playing second fiddle in the city, of the few that there are, they are quite loyal. This leads to quite an atmosphere, compared to Barcelona fans who come to each game expecting a 4-0 win.
The Game
You could say that the Barcelona fans are arrogant for expecting a 4-0 win each week, but the fact is that 9 times out of 10, they will get it. If you are after a good game of top flight Spanish football where you don’t know what the outcome will be, go to Espanyol. In a funny way, a Barcelona loss would be more of a spectacle and something to write home about, than them winning 6-0. This affects the atmosphere of the respective crowds. However, it goes without saying, if you wish to see football played at its finest, FC Barcelona is the one for you.
The Coolness Factor
Yes FC Barcelona is the world famous football club of the city, but if you see yourself as quite the football connoisseur, then head out of your accommodation, and go to an Espanyol game! Your friends back home will be much more impressed with your footballing expertise, and it is something that not many tourists can say they have done.
Overall, both have their benefits. Espanyol has cheaper tickets that are easier to obtain; it’s the hipster choice, more of a local experience and an interesting match. However, given the majesty of the Camp Nou, the history of the club and its importance to Catalan culture (which you can learn about at the brilliant onsite museum), mixed with the fact that it is currently the greatest side gracing the beautiful game, if you can, fork out the extra cash and get yourself down to watch a match of the stunning FC Barcelona.
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