There is no doubt that COVID-19 has marked a before and after in our lives and soccer is no exception. Osasuna returned to El Sadar 101 days later. And the atmosphere had nothing to do with it. On March 8 Espanyol were measured, with a spectacular atmosphere. This Wednesday the empty stands and the field, in full remodeling work, only a few media as spectators. At ten o'clock the anthem of the rojillo club sounded and both teams jumped onto the pitch, but there was no applause, nor did the rojillos feel the warmth of the fans. Before the game began, a minute of silence was observed for the victims of COVID-19.
It is curious how with the empty field you hear every scream, every ball hit, the indications of the coaches, the collegiate beeps, clear.
Rubén, the red goalkeeper, encourages Moncayola: “Well Monca, look for the second play”
David Garcia takes a hit, the referee of the match warns the mattress maker who is clearly heard protesting. The directions given to each other by the players are clearly heard.
At minute 26 Joao Félix scores and the only thing heard is the narrations of the different radio journalists, who almost in unison sing the goal. In the 30th minute silence arrives, the game stops so that the players hydrate. The coaches take the opportunity to give instructions. The red players talk to each other calling each other by their nicknames, Chino (David García) or wall (Unai). The first half is about to end, Atleti is going to take a corner and Rubén asks for tension. The break is coming and the music of 'The team A' plays on the public address system, only this time there is no one to sing it.
The second half begins. Barricade sounds 'There is no truce', but there is no applause or shouts of encouragement for the rojillos. They lack their 12th player, their fans, the one that pushes from minute one until the final whistle. Canvases with images of the fans cover the crumbling stands of the Navarrese fief. The people of Pamplona are encouraged among themselves: ‘Come on, reds’. And the mattress makers do the same; ‘Come on, come on,’ jelly Oblak to his teammates. In the 55th minute, another visiting goal arrives, once again Joao Félix, who celebrates it and hears the clash of his teammates' hands, while the Osasuna players try to cheer up.
The minutes go by and the screams of the players and the ball hits continue to be heard clearly. Enric Gallego commits a foul and sees yellow, but he comments to the referee: “I have not touched it.” The end comes and there is no applause, only the joy of the mattresses who leave Pamplona with three points in the suitcase. In minute 78, the third of the Cholo arrived, the work of Llorente. The cries of joy from Madrid are heard. And the fourth arrives, the work of Morata, after revision of the VAR. And then the fifth came, the work of Carrasco. The visiting victory is a fact.
Definitely watching a game behind closed doors makes football lose its essence. The less strange it is not to listen to the passion of the fans, that they don't push their team. Soccer behind closed doors is less soccer.