There is the Classico, and then there is this derby. In the space of a big week, FC Barcelona will have come up against its two eternal rivals: Real Madrid, defeated 4-0 last Saturday, and Espanyol de Barcelona, which the Blaugranas will meet again this Sunday, November 3 ( 4:15 p.m.). A reunion necessarily a bit special for two clubs which had not been able to compete the previous season, due to the relegation of blue and white in the second division. Enough to rekindle the embers of a rivalry in decline?
Unionists versus separatists?
Ce barcelona derby (in Catalan) has the particularity of bringing together two completely opposite clubs. If we look in the dusty rearview mirror, socio-political history plays an important role in the genesis of this rivalry. Created in 1900, just one year after its neighbor, Espanyol de Barcelona trails behind it an identity that is more nationalist than Catalan.
Before its name was “Catalanized” in 1997, the blue and white bore the royal title of Real Club Deportivo Español, offered by King Alfonso XIII in 1912. Added to this the crown which adorns the coat of arms, the label of unionist club was obvious.
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For its part, FC Barcelona was built around the defense of Catalan culture, becoming the voice of autonomist demands in Catalonia. The choice of Catalan (notably the slogan “ more than a club »more than a club), rather than Castilian, as the official language of the club, is one of the prominent examples.
And then the sociology of supporters also helped to divide the two entities a little further. At FC Barcelona, the middle class and the lower bourgeoisie; at Espanyol, the working class and more conservative on the outskirts of the city… A vision, certainly a little simplistic, which nevertheless tends to fade over time.
Espanyol have not won a derby since 2009
Regarding the sporting part, the gap is abysmal between the two clubs. While FC Barcelona reigns (almost alone) with Real Madrid on the national scene and competes in European games every year, the Parakeets (the parakeets) vegetate in the soft underbelly of La Liga. Their past performances are up (four Spanish Cups and two UEFA Cup finals) and Espanyol players have been relegated to the second division twice in the last five seasons (in 2019-20 and 2022-23). This blatant difference in level has inevitably undermined the sporting interest of this Barcelona duel.
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In the shadow of its rival, Espanyol has not won a derby since 2009. And this season, the Blue and White are trailing in 17th place.e championship place, while the gathering are strong leaders. While Barça striker Robert Lewandowski dominates the scorers' rankings with 14 goals since the start of the season, Espanyol have only scored 10 times.
This Sunday, November 3, the blue and white will travel to a venue that they know well, having played there between 1997 and 2009: the Montjuic Olympic stadium. The ideal place to create a small feat, and rekindle the flame of derby?
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