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At home in Barcelona? - 09/12/2002
Rayo Vallecano share the same kit as Peru - let's hope Newcastle share the same result! |
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Spain is a popular destination for thousands of ex-pat Peruvians, behind Madrid, you’ll find the largest community in the country – some 15,000 live in and around the ‘Cilantro’ area of the great City. Most of them are soccer mad, and Nobby’s the biggest star! During the evenings many Peruvians congregate in the numerous telephone kiosks, known as ‘locortorios’, call home and talk football. The hot topic of conversation…Solano’s in town!
A local publication ‘La Diez’, is a monthly magazine dedicated to South American’s playing in the Spanish League, and whilst there was talk of Nol joining Real Madrid a year or two back, the focus will be firmly on Nol’s and Newcastle’s united performance..
Nol hopes to receive the backing of his compatriots on Tuesday night, although the price of match tickets may see most view the match from the TV’s of local bars. With Barca seemingly saving their performances for the Champions League, they suffered another defeat away to Rayo Vallecano – a team wearing the ‘Peruvian’ style shirts of white with a diagonal red stripe! Let’s hope the Peruvian influence continues!
With Thursday seeing Nol’s 28th birthday, he’s aware that as a senior player in a very young Newcastle side, he has to shoulder some of the responsibility in supporting the younger players. With the usual strike-force missing, it’s down to the likely midfield foursome of Nol, Speedo, JJ and Laurent Robert to supply quality balls into the youthful partnership that’s likely to be LuaLua and Shola. However, with a predatory Barca attack of Patrick Kluivert and Javier Saviola – ably supported by Juan Roman Riquelme, the much maligned defence will also need protecting. If the pre-season 3-0 defeat at St. James is to prove anything, it’s that Barcelona possess players with a clinical ability to finish. However, with a team spirit that has never known when to throw in the towel, and with the backing of a reported 6,000 Geordies allied to 15,000 Peruvians, we could be in for another classic European night!
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