Barcelona supporters warmly greet the trickle of Girona fans going into the away section at the Camp Nou. It’s a nondescript Monday in April 2023, and among the travelling few are couples like Xavi Bautista and wife Monica, wearing the scarves of each club.
Xavi is a lifelong Girona fan from the days when they had three-figure crowds for home games, while Monica supports Barça. They’re simply happy to be there, for Xavi to see Girona, whom he once watched play fifthtier football, in the same league as Barcelona. It’s the only game of the season classed as so low risk that away fans are allowed to wear their club shirts in home sections.