As Joan Laporta announced, the moment before the start of the match against Athletic was a determined “act of exaltation” of the estelada. The stands of the Spotify Camp Nou were practically flooded with this pro-independence flag. So much so that it was impossible not to think of the moments when the bulk of Barcelona supporters were more combative in this regard, coinciding precisely with the peak period of everything the so-called procés stirred up at the pro-independence level just a few years ago in both the Catalan and Spanish political scenes. The opponent to be received, Athletic, seemed by all accounts the most suitable, despite the fact that relations between the two fan bases are now strained due to the failed signing of Nico Williams. The team whose fans joined in booing the Spanish anthem when both met in a Copa final was, in this case, the target of that gesture by a Barcelona stand where a particularly exalted fan broke the minute of silence for deceased members with a tremendously indecorous outburst against Spain shouted at the top of his lungs.
Two and a half hours before the match started, there was already a large number of fans walking around the surroundings of the Spotify Camp Nou. The vast majority wore only shirts, scarves, and other accessories in the blue and garnet colors. Practically, the only references to the senyera were old second or third kits, such as those from the 2013-14, 2020-21, or 2022-23 seasons. The distribution of esteladas planned by pro-sovereignty associations like the ANC (Assemblea or Òmnium Cultural, in this case) was not going to start until 7:30 p.m. And a little earlier, yes, many fans who had decided to bring their flags directly from home could already be seen. Many tied around their necks like a sort of cape, thus recalling another source of inspiration for the multinational sportswear company that outfits the Barcelona team to design another of its kits with the colors of the Catalan flag. Of course, without a star, in this case. That symbol on the uniform has so far only been dared to be worn by the modest Figueres, 11 years ago.
Of course, at the scheduled time, volunteers began distributing the, according to the ANC, 10,000 esteladas they wanted to bring into the Spotify Camp Nou to carry out the claim of this flag that the Barcelona president himself, Joan Laporta, had announced on Tuesday as a response to the incident involving law enforcement and a young Barcelona fan in the moments before the match against Elche last Sunday at the Martínez Valero. Many Barcelona supporters came to pick up one or more of them, with the commitment to display them in the stadium stands when the time came. People of all ages. From children barely a few inches off the ground, some with an estelada perfectly tied around their neck, to people decidedly in the autumn of their lives. There were also several fans with foreign accents, from the most varied destinations, who also wanted to pick up theirs. Perhaps unaware of its reivindicative meaning. Nor were there missing, in turn, those who asked volunteers, for example, where they should enter the venue. The hazards of wearing a vest on match day.
Just before the match started, there was indeed that act of exaltation of the estelada announced by Laporta this past Wednesday. While the notes of the Barcelona anthem played, these flags multiplied in the stands. Both those distributed by the ANC, reversible, so that each person could choose whether the star would be white framed by a blue background or red with a yellow background. A choice that, years ago, was itself a clear political bet between right and left, but which has now faded. And also, of course, two large esteladas, unfolded from the front rows of the second tier. Given the density of their presence, at times it recalled the most exalted moments of a procés that in recent years seemed to be losing momentum at an increasingly rapid pace. Even Laporta, especially combative in this political aspect, had been showing a much more contemplative attitude than before. At least until his fiery proclamation the day before the match. It remains to be seen whether this will, in turn, mean a determined return to a more combative political profile. Both for the leader and the club itself.
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