Sports

The Catalan Capital lives and breathes football and not just on Derby day

Published

7 years ago

March 29, 2019

grassroots

BY: Justice Godfry

While almost everything in the Catalan capital stops whenever its biggest two teams, FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, meet in LaLiga action, the city also lives and breathes football 24/7 on the 363 days a year when the derby isn’t being played!

The centre-point of most football fans’ visit to the city will be Barcelona’s Camp Nou or Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium home grounds, whether to take in a match in person or visit their impressive museum and tours.

There is much more football to experience throughout Barcelona, however, and not just on LaLiga match days. Most of the most popular tourist spots have links with one or both of the city’s two biggest football clubs, while visitors who know where to look can learn lots more about the history of both the city and the sport.

1. Las Ramblas / Canaletes

Barcelona’s central Las Ramblas avenue, which links the commercial and shopping areas with the Mediterranean Sea, is an ideal place to soak up the city’s atmosphere on arrival.

Las Ramblas has outlets where you can easily buy Barcelona or Espanyol match tickets, jerseys or souvenirs, while you might also get to meet the ‘Ronaldinho of Las Ramblas,’ a local personality who happily juggles his ball while posing for photos with visitors.

At the city end of Las Ramblas sits the Font de Canaletes, a modest fountain which comes alive whenever Barcelona win a trophy with fans congregating to celebrate into the night. The tradition dates back to the 1930s, when the city’s first sports newspaper La Rambla had its offices right here. The fastest way in those pre-internet days to learn your team’s results was to gather outside and wait for the editors to hang out a blackboard with the score scribbled on. How times change!

A short five-minute walk away is Barça striker Luis Suarez’s ‘Chalito’ restaurant, at Rambla Catalunya, 12, where fans of all clubs are welcome to tuck into South American-inspired fast food.

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2. Gaudi, architectural visionary and football fan

Early-20^th century visionary Antoni Gaudi is the most celebrated Catalan architect of all time and visitors to Barcelona often visit at least one of the famously unfinished Sagrada Familia cathedral, the magical Parc Guell and the Art Nouveau Casa Vicens museum.

However, few of those visiting his works today will be aware that Gaudi was actually a huge football fan. He loved the game to such an extent that the stadium of the first football team in his Catalan hometown of Riudoms was built on land donated by his family back in 1923.

It is not known if Gaudi attended the very first Catalan derby on record in December 1900, as work was ongoing at the Sagrada Familia site when the teams played out a goalless draw walking distance away at the Camp de l’Hotel Casanovas.

That location is now home to the Hospital de Sant Pau, another striking building from the Catalan Art Nouveau movement, designed by Gaudi’s contemporary Lluis Domenech i Montaner, currently open to the public as a museum and gallery.

3. Diagonal

FC Barcelona’s first-ever game was played in 1899 at the Velodromo de la Bonanova, then a multi-sports ground just outside the city centre. It is now the quiet Turo Parc, a small secluded park close to the bustling Diagonal avenue.

By 1922, Barca had moved further out to Les Corts, the neighbourhood where the Camp Nou stands today. Visitors to the stadium might first stop at the atmospheric Cementerio de Les Cortes, the final resting place of departed Blaugrana heroes including club founder Hans Gamper, Laszlo Kubala, Cesar Rodriguez, Paulino Alcantara and Josep Samitier.

Espanyol also moved around a lot in their early days, playing some of their first games on fields beside the city’s famous ‘Plaza de Toros de las Arenas’ bullring. With interest in bullfighting having fallen in the region over the years, ‘Las Arenas’ has been redeveloped into a multi-use building featuring modern exhibition spaces, an extensive shopping centre, and various restaurants.

4. Montjuic

Overlooking the city of Barcelona is the mountain of Montjuic, with its multi-purpose Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys which still boasts its beautiful 1920s Art-Nouveau facade.

Montjuic hosted the only Catalan derby Copa del Rey final to date, won 1-0 by Barça in 1957. It was also the main stadium for the 1992 Olympic Games, where soon to be Barça legends Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique, as well as future Espanyol left-back Jose Emilio Amavisca, won gold in the final of the football tournament.

Espanyol called the 60,000-seater stadium home between 1997 and 2009, celebrating many special nights there including the club’s 100^th anniversary, before moving to the RCDE Stadium in the city’s suburbs.

The Estadi Olimpic now regularly hosts American football, rugby and athletics events, as well as music concerts from top international acts such as Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay. It can be visited for free most days of the year and the stunning views of the city and the sea from the top of the hill alone merit the climb up.

Montjuic is also home to the Pompeya tennis club, whose restaurant witnessed one of the most famous moments in Blaugrana history back in December 2000 when former player-turned-director Charly Rexach wrote out a first contract for then-12-year-old Lionel Messi on the back of a napkin. The rest, as they say, is history.

5. To the beach for a game

The easiest way back to the centre from Montjuic is to take the cable car down to the Barceloneta port area. From there it’s just a raking Sergio Busquets or Esteban Granero diagonal ball to the beach, another of the city’s must-visit places.

Further along the water, past the Parc de la Ciutadella and the Casino, is the Bogatell beach, where permanent goalposts are fixed into the sand just waiting for impromptu games of beach football to break out.

Also down by the seafront is Blue Spot, a bar restaurant on Passeig Joan de Borbo, whose investors include Barça defender Gerard Pique and his partner Shakira.

Sports

South Africa Book Spot at 2026 World Cup After Crucial Win Over Rwanda

Report by ISRAEL ORJI

Published

6 hours ago

October 14, 2025

grassroots

South Africa beat Rwanda to qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup

South Africa has officially secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, following a commanding 3-0 victory over Rwanda in their final Group C fixture.

This marks Bafana Bafana’s return to the World Cup finals through qualification for the first time since they hosted in 2010.

Decisive Victory, Turbulent Qualifying Run

South Africa’s qualification was not without controversy. Earlier in the campaign, FIFA stripped Bafana Bafana of a 2-0 win over Lesotho, converting it into a 3-0 loss after ruling that midfielder Teboho Mokoena was ineligible to play.
Despite this setback, the team showed resilience and integrity, clinching the win over Rwanda to seal their place in the World Cup.

Aftermath & Implications in Group C

The sanctions imposed earlier reshaped the dynamics of Group C, opening paths for Nigeria and other teams to capitalize.
With the point deduction applied, South Africa’s qualification became even more critical.

What’s Next

South Africa will now prepare for the global stage, while other teams in Group C aim to finish their qualifying campaigns on a high note. Nigeria, the Super Eagles, now have renewed hope after the point deduction. If they win their remaining matches and favorable results fall their way, they could advance either via group positioning or through the playoffs.

Sports

Breaking: Osimhen Runs Riot as Super Eagles Crush Benin in Crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier

Report By ORJI ISRAEL

Published

6 hours ago

October 14, 2025

grassroots

Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen lit up the pitch as Nigeria’s Super Eagles recorded a commanding victory over the Benin Republic in a decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, asserting their intent on the road to Qatar.

In a match full of attacking brilliance and clinical finishing, Osimhen’s performance stood out. He terrorized the Beninese defence and played a central role in Nigeria’s dominant display.

The exact scoreline and minute-by-minute details are still being confirmed, but his influence on the match was unmistakable.

Match Highlights & Tactical Notes

Osimhen spearheaded Nigeria’s attack, combining pace, power, and clinical finishing to keep the Benin defenders on edge throughout the night.
The Super Eagles maintained control in midfield and launched persistent pressure, cutting off Benin’s attempts to build meaningful attacks.
Nigeria’s defensive line held firm, shutting down Benin’s key outlets and limiting their opportunities to break forward.

Implications & What Next

This victory significantly boosts Nigeria’s chances in the World Cup qualification race, providing momentum and confidence as they push toward automatic qualification.
Osimhen’s form will be a key focal point for opposing teams going forward—his form is proving vital for Nigeria’s attacking threat.
With this kind of win, the squad’s morale and belief are likely to grow stronger, especially in high‐pressure, knockout style matches.

The Super Eagles are now looking ahead to their next fixture with renewed optimism and a sharpened competitive edge.

Sports

Disney+ unveils new channels in South Africa

Published

3 weeks ago

September 23, 2025

Ani Sandra

Disney+ - ESPN Africa linear channels

Disney+ today announced that, from 02 October 2025, the ESPN Africa linear channels will be available to South African customers at no extra cost.

Fans will have access to the two 24-hour linear ESPN channels that showcase the very best live and studio sports programming from the US and around the world, spanning major leagues and iconic competitions.

On ESPN, a world of sport awaits Disney+ customers with the National Rugby League in Australia (Aussie Rules) and Japan’s Rugby League, plus top European football action including the Scottish Professional Football League, English Football League, Dutch Eredivisie, German Football Association Cup and Turkey’s SüperLig, along with the Saudi Pro League.

ESPN 2 brings the biggest American sports, showcasing the NBA (National Basketball Association), NFL (National Football League), MLB (Major League Baseball) and NHL (National Hockey League), along with women’s and college competitions such as the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League), NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and ESPN College Football.

Both ESPN channels also broadcast studio shows capturing the latest news and analysis from across American sport and football including “ESPN FC”, “First Take”, “The Pat McAfee” Show” and “SportsCenter”. Critically acclaimed and celebrated documentaries and original programming are also available, including ESPN’s award-winning library of 30 for 30 films.

Says Diego Londono, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Networks & Sports, The Walt Disney Company EMEA: “At Disney, we are committed to delivering world-class sports and entertainment to customers across the region. The launch of the ESPN Africa linear channels on Disney+ in South Africa reflects our strategy to reach sports fans across multiple platforms and connect with new audiences, bringing iconic sporting moments together with the expansive and much-loved entertainment already available.”

Adds Kyle de Klerk, Director: Sports for The Walt Disney Company Africa: “ESPN’s unparalleled content offering will provide Disney+ customers with access to the greatest historic and live sports programming from some of the most iconic leagues and events in the world. Fans will be able to enjoy thrilling action right away as the European Football season and the NFL (National Football League), have just launched, with existing milestones to look forward to in 2025 including the start of the NBA (National Basketball Association), NHL (National Hockey League) as well as NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) football and basketball leagues.”

Disney+ has something for everyone — from blockbuster movies and hit series to much-loved Originals. Customers can enjoy FX’s “The Bear”, “The Kardashians”, “Only Murders in the Building”, “The Simpsons” and much more. The ESPN Africa linear channels will join a vast content catalogue from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and general entertainment, which also features content from Hulu, FX, Searchlight Pictures and 20th Century Studios.

All Disney+ Premium and Mobile plan customers with an 18+ content rating in South Africa will have access to the linear channels.

In addition to Disney+ in South Africa, ESPN is available on MultiChoice’s DStv and StarTimes across Africa.