During the September school holidays, 28 students and 4 teachers from Marist College Canberra embarked on the soccer adventure of a lifetime to Spain for their Barcelona and Madrid Soccer Tour. Here is a day-by-day recap of their tour!
Day 1: Arrival and first training session
After four flights and an extensive 24 hours of travel from Canberra to Sydney to Dubai to Barcelona, the students arrived eager to dive into the city’s vibrant culture. After settling into their hotel, the boys prepared for their first training session in the sweltering Spanish heat to dust off their first touches!
Day 2: La Sagrada Familia and Camp Nou
The next day started with a well-deserved buffet breakfast, fuelling them for a visit to the iconic La Sagrada Familia Basilica. The grand architecture and intricate sculptures left them in awe, and the interior was just as breathtaking.
After lunch at the hotel, they headed to Camp Nou. Although under construction, the immersive virtual tour allowed them to relive the club’s storied history. They explored the trophy room and unique memorabilia before heading to the Olympic Stadium to catch Barcelona play against the Swiss Young Boys in the Champions League. The atmosphere was electric as Barca won 5-0, and they savoured every moment, from the thrilling goals to the lively crowd. Michael, the teacher who led the tour said, “From the collective jubilation of each goal to spending $16 on a hot dog, the game was something we will never forget.”
Day 3: Professional training session and shopping
Day 3 brought the squad’s first professional training session at Espanyol’s grounds. After lunch at a local shopping mall, they explored La Rambla with their Tour Director, Dani, enjoying the bustling street filled with unique shops. They then spent some free time in the Gothic Quarter, which led to fun purchases, including quirky t-shirts and sports merch. The day ended with a satisfying reflection on the group’s training and shopping successes.
Day 4: Tarragona and first friendly match
On the way to Tarragona, the group stopped to marvel at a Roman aqueduct before enjoying a guided tour of the city, rich in history. After some shopping, they returned to Barcelona for lunch before heading to Martorell for the first match of the tour. They enjoyed a win and post-game banter with the opposition.
Day 5: Training and second friendly match
The group arrived at another pristine synthetic enclosed field and began a training session with their teachers to prepare for their next game later in the day. A local school watched on, adding a bit of pressure!
For the match that followed, the team went down 4-2, but they were all proud of their efforts and looked forward to their last two games. After dinner, many chose to unwind with locals while watching a late-night La Liga match and enjoying patatas bravas and lemonades.
Day 6: La Liga Match and beach football
Students enjoyed a thrilling La Liga match between Espanyol and Mallorca. The atmosphere at RCDE Stadium was exhilarating, with over 24,000 fans in attendance. Espanyol’s two early goals fueled the crowd, leading to a thrilling finish. “Every tackle, free-kick, and pass oozed with quality, resulting in an even greater respect for the immense talent present in Spanish football,” said Michael.
Post-match, they indulged in shopping for Espanyol merchandise, and the boys came together for a beach football game, where the senior team claimed victory 4-1.
Day 7: Montjuïc Castle and scavenger hunt
They kicked off Day 7 with a cable car ride to Montjuïc Castle overlooking the harbour of Barcelona. After exploring the castle’s impressive features, they attended a fourth-tier Spanish football match between Sant Andreu and Atlético Baleares, which ended dramatically with a late goal from Sant Andreu.
The group then split into teams of four and embarked on a scavenger hunt through Las Ramblas, searching for items on their list, capturing photos of famous landmarks, and creating many memories. They also had an educational talk about the history of the Monument a Francesc Macià.
Day 8: Travel to Madrid via Zaragoza
The group bid farewell to Barcelona and began their journey to Madrid, stopping along the way in Zaragoza to explore the stunning basilica cathedral and enjoy live classical music from a festival happening in the city that week. After a long drive, they checked into their hotel in Madrid and celebrated with a delicious paella dinner!
Day 9: Madrid adventures and third friendly match
After breakfast, teachers led a training session with the boys before visiting the art museum, Museo del Prado, which featured many impressive and rare artworks. After some free time for shopping, they headed to the pitch for their next game. Here’s a summary from their coach, Michael:
“The game started at 7:20 PM, and the team they were facing had played a game every day for the last four days, so they knew their legs would be tired. Even given this, their first touch, the way they moved the ball around, and their overall possession were a beauty to watch. We stood strong, however, keeping a clean sheet in the first half, not letting them create many chances, and hitting them on the counter-attack.” The team went on to win 4-2, and they celebrated passionately in the changerooms before heading back to the hotel for dinner.
Day 10: Royal Palace and final friendly match
The group’s last day began with a visit to the Madrid Royal Palace, where they watched the military perform a musical show and were lucky enough to see a spectacular display of jets and helicopters flying overhead!
It was then off to Plaza de Toros Las Ventas, the most prestigious bullring in the world! On their guided tour, they learned about the rich history of bullfighting, the process of raising bulls, and enjoyed a VR experience before heading into the main arena.
The group’s final match was at Atlético Granada against a tough opponent. Despite a 3-0 defeat, they finished strong, taking a group photo to commemorate their journey.
On the way back to the hotel, the group stopped at a mall for one last shopping experience for gifts and sports merch before beginning their journey home the following day. What a journey of a lifetime!
