A family holiday in Barcelona just happened to coincide with a match against Valencia at Camp Nou and two tickets were secured for my 8 year old son and I before we flew out.
With my very limited knowledge of the Spanish language I had established a couple of days before the game that Xavi was injured and wouldn’t play a part in the game, I had to break the news to Billy gently as he is his favourite player.
There were tears, but I managed to pull myself together.....
It was a 9.30pm kick off and Billy was keen to get to the ground early and visit the club shop and soak up the atmosphere. Having helped to ease the economic doom and gloom in the region by spending a small fortune we made our way into the ground and found our seats which were in Gol Nord behind the goal and offered a brilliant view.
An hour before kick off the line ups were announced and Billy excitedly noticed amongst the substitutes was his hero…Xavi Hernandez!
As the teams entered the field of play it was a real hairs on the back of the neck moment as the Barca anthem was played, stirring stuff and certainly beats the usual turgid soft rock anthems heard inside stadiums.
The first half was over in a flash, Valencia taking the lead only for Barcelona to turn on the style and thanks to two Messi goals lead at half time. It’s no exaggeration to say it could have been 10, they were simply awesome and some of the football took the breath away
Billy phoned his Gran at half time who was watching on tv and announced it the best day of his life, when asked if it could get any better he said only if Messi got a hat trick and he were to see Xavi, even if it was for just a minute.
The second half saw Barcelona attacking the goal we were behind and once again it was 45 minutes of outstanding football that we felt privileged to be witnessing, 31 attempts on goal! Messi duly completed his hat trick and as he scored his fourth with 5 minutes remaining a substitution took place.
Iniesta, who left to a richly deserved standing ovation after an outstanding performance was replaced by a player who was greeted by a huge roar from the crowd and one little boy in particular.
Billy was going to see Xavi in action
He asked me to film a few seconds of him in action and it couldn’t have been scripted better, the fifth goal duly arrived as Xavi lobbed the keeper. I almost wept tears of joy when I saw Billy’s face, I still choke up when I look at the video. It was one of those father and son moments that we will never forget.
Billy once again declared it the best day of his life, it was certainly one of the best of the last 50 years of mine!
Gracias Pep. Gracias Barcelona. Gracias Xavi!
The following week saw us watching Villa grind out a tedious goalless draw at Wigan. Billy asked if we could leave at half time.........
Now watch the magical moment when Xavi scored.....
Memory added on August 22, 2012
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