18.12.2010 10:59

Espanyol-FCB. Did you know...?

Jordi Clos

Derby games between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol have been heightening passions for over 100 years and there are many curiosities surrounding the games:

♦ The first derby between the two clubs when Espanyol were called Sociedad Española and took place on Hotel Casanova pitch, FC Barcelona's home ground, on December 23, 1900. The game ended goalless.

♦ In 1909 the rivalry between the teams first appeared when on June 20 of that year fans of FC Espanyol invaded the pitch to protest and force the referee to rule out an FC Barcelona goal in the RCD Espanyol tournament. The Blaugrana promptly walked off.

♦ In the 1920's and the 1930's there were many sparks flying when the sides met.

♦ Between 1929 and 1997 Espanyol hosted Barça at their home in Sarrià. Then the Blanc i Blau moved in 1998 to the Estadi Olímpic on Montjuïc and played there until 2009. Last season was the first derby to be played in the Cornellà- El Prat stadium.

♦ The 1950/51 season saw Espanyol record their biggest home win over Barça, 6-0. The Blaugrana's biggest wins while being the away side against Espanyol were in 1981/82 and 1991/92, when they triumphed 0-5 on both occasions.

♦ On June 16, 1957 the final of the Copa del Rey was played between Barça and Espanyol on Montjuïc. It is the only time the teams have met in the final and the Blaugrana won 1-0 thinks to a goal from Sampedro. Sportsmanship both on and off the field was absolute.

♦ Papi Anguera was shown a yellow card when he encroached on to the field of play during the meeting in 1977/78 when he tried to give Johan Cruyff new shorts.

♦ The highest scoring derby games at Espanyol were the 5-3 in 1985/86 and the 4-4 that came in 1930/31.

♦ In 1996 a downpour forced the game to be abandoned after just eight minutes.

♦ In the first derby in Montjuïc in 1997/98, Espanyol formed a guard of honour as the Barça playes ran on to the pitch as the Blaugrana had already won the league.

♦ The last Espanyol-Barça game to be played in the Estadi Olímpic on Montjuïc was won by the visitors when Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot. The game was spoiled by crowd trouble.

♦ The first encounter between the teams in Cornellà-El Prat was last season and the game ended 0-0.