El Clasico Platense

Last sunday we went to see ´El clasico´, a football match between rivals Estudiantes and Gimnasia, two football teams from the same town, La Plata, both playing on a national level.
Football is a big sport in Argentina and lot´s of Argentinians are very passionate about it.
I heared about a couple who at their wedding used the colours of their favorite football team and met Lara, a 15year old girl, who had a photoshoot and of all places chose the stadium of her favorite football team as the place, wearing of course a shirt of the team. And after seeing a documentary about Argentina ´barra brava´, I got curious to this extreme football fanatism. And a game like ´el clasico´ would be the perfect moment to be able to get the best experience to that argentine football passion in La Plata.

the football experience already started getting to the stadium,
where the streets are filled with little stands selling
hamburgers and choripanes (chorizo sandwiches)

As Gonzalo is a Gimnasia fan, it made me a little fan of that team too.
unfortunately the tickets in the Popular stand, standing places behind the goal,
where the biggest fans are, were already sold out,
the good thing: we had a better view over the game and some seats.

people started entering the stadium

when the teams came on the field the crowed got really exited,
they started cheering a lot and there were blue smoke boms

and fireworks



the audience behind the goal got decorated in blue and white

the other side in red and white

although we were in the sitting area, people kept standing



things got agressive when the captain of Estudiantes was trying to take a corner
and police had to come out and protect him from things being thrown at him

at half time the game was still 0-0, but shortly after..

gooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllllll!!
(I guess argentina football tv-reporters are choosen on
the length on which they can pronounce the word ´goal´)

1-0 for gimnasia

lots of happy people all around us, even the kids



Gimnasia seemed to be winning and some Estudiantes fans
were already leaving the stadium, cheered away by Gimnasia fans
but in the very last minute, Estudiantes made a goal,
making the score 1-1,
leaving the Gimnasia fans who thought they had already won,
disappointed..