Watching Spain's Soccer Giants

Q: I want to attend a Barcelona vs Real Madrid match at Nou Camp. How can I get my hands on a match ticket and how much will it cost? - Thuli Mokakala

A: It is very difficult to get tickets for any Barcelona match at Nou Camp in Barcelona. Although the stadium seats 98,000 the club has more members than that and most seats are allocated to season ticket holders. As you might imagine, tickets for a match against fierce rivals Real Madrid are like gold. Your best bet is to try one of the ticket agencies (www.spainticketbureau.com or www.spanish-fiestas.com) and then organise your own flight and accommodation. However, you could try to find a sports fan package that includes flights, accommodation and tickets. Most of these packages from South Africa are for Springbok rugby matches and English Premiership games, but I am sure that one of the travel firms could offer you a package to a Barcelona-Real Madrid game. Try GTS Sports Packages at Harvey World Travel (Tel: 082 499 3719; www.gtssportspackages.co.za) or SA Sports Packages (Tel: 011 462 6920; www.onlinepackages.co.za). I am not sure about the cost, but a three-night package from Johannesburg to a Manchester United-Liverpool game costs around R14,000. (10/4/11)