Bayern’s appeal in the football world can even be felt in a small town on the north-east coast of Spain. Mataró, around 30 kilometres east of Barcelona, is home to sports journalist Marc Mayola. No wonder he was practically born wearing a Barca jersey, as his father regularly took him to the Camp Nou. He was a Blaugrana fan for a total of 18 years, but his heart was always more attached to a completely different club: “At the Camp Nou, I always heard: We are the best club in the world. And I always thought: No! That's Bayern.”
Marc has now been a member of the German record champions for more than 10 years and even has a small club museum in his home. “When I see pictures of Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, Philipp Lahm, Arjen Robben or other legends in our jersey, I feel a strong connection,” he explains. He has not yet been able to cheer on his Bayern team as a spectator at the Allianz Arena, but he has been to watch training sessions at Säbener Straße. “When I'm there, I feel at home,” he says. Now his Bayern are coming to him on Wednesday, as Barcelona await in the Champions League. And as a Catalan local, Marc has some very special tips for all Bayern fans making the trip.
How to reach the Olympic Stadium
The fixture isn’t being played at the legendary Camp Nou but at the Olympic Stadium around five kilometres away. Barca temporarily moved to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, which has a total capacity of 56,000, at the start of the 2023/24 season due to renovation work on their home ground. “It's a rather cold stadium, but with a lot of tradition,” says Marc about the venue of the 1992 Summer Olympics. The stadium is located on Montjuïc, one of Barcelona's two hills, and is best reached on foot via Plaza de España. Escalators take fans up from there.
What you need to know about Barcelona
With a population of 1.63 million, Barcelona is only slightly larger than Munich (1.59 million) and has two well-known football clubs in Barca and Espanyol. If you want to discover the city outside of football, Marc recommends a trip to Casa Batlló. The building, which is located around five kilometres from the Olympic Stadium in the Eixample district, was designed by artist Antoni Gaudi in a modern style and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city's landmark, the Sagrada Família basilica, is located nearby. The 17-hectare Park Güell, one of Barcelona's largest green spaces, offers a breathtaking view over the city.
Tips for food and drinks
There are plenty of culinary delights to discover in this Mediterranean city. Marc suggests the classic: a good paella. For lovers of Catalan cuisine, the Bayern fan also recommends a dinner where bread, tomatoes and sausages are served. The locals say: “Pa amb tomàquet amb embotit”. Panellets, which are traditionally baked on All Saints' Day, are also a speciality in north-eastern Spain. The dough of the ball-shaped pastry consists of sweet potatoes and almonds and is coated with pine nuts. “My favourite pastry at this time of year,” says Marc. For those who prefer something more savoury, he recommends a typical Catalan sausage with white beans (botifarra amb seques). He also has an unusual delicacy typical of the country on his list: Snails cooked on a grill or in the oven (cargols a la llauna).
The best bars and restaurant
But where can you find good food in Spain's second largest city? In Marc's opinion, the best restaurants in Barcelona include Cova Fumada and Bometa (both in the coastal neighbourhood of Barceloneta) and Glaciar in Plaça Reial. Mussol in the Las Arenas shopping centre, Abstenta and Txokoa Barcelona in the Les Corts district are also definitely worth a visit, says Marc.
For fans looking for the best bars, Marc recommends these three locations: Pipa's Club, El O'caña (both in Plaça Reial) and El Antic Teatre. Spanish beer cannot be compared with Bavarian beer, says Marc. However, his favourites include Turia, Voll-Damm and Bock Damm Negra Munich.
„At the Camp Nou, I always heard: We are the best club in the world. And I always thought: No! That's Bayern”
Marc, sports journalist and Bayern member
A life for football
He obviously hopes that Bayern fans will be able to toast a victory after the important Champions League match but will not be able to watch the game live himself. The match between Manchester City and Sparta Prague is on at the same time, which he is commentating on for Catalan television. In addition to his work as a commentator, Mayola analyses the action in La Liga for the radio and writes for print media. His everyday life revolves around football (and family): “I organise my afternoons according to which games I'm watching or commentating on.”
Marc prefers watching Bayern games alone
But he likes Bundesliga football the best. “Because of the way it's played,” says Marc. But also because the fans take centre stage in Germany, whereas in Spain supporters are seen more as customers. When he thinks back to his first contact with football, scenes of Jürgen Klinsmann and Lothar Matthäus pop into his head: “When Germany won the World Cup in Italy in 1990,” Marc remembers. “The Bayern games were shown on Canal 33, a Catalan channel.”
Marc will watch the full 90 minutes of Wednesday's clash afterwards. At home and alone. “I enjoy it so much,” he says. He's not particularly excited about the fact Bayern are coming to Barcelona. “I always feel connected to the club. The thoughts, feelings and emotions are not dependent on location.” He probably wouldn't have found FC Bayern any other way. Love knows no distance - not even to your favourite club.
Marc, it’s great to have you as a Bayern member and fan. Thanks for your insider tips. Next stop: Barcelona!
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