5 things you didn't know about ELDERBI DE BARCELONA

Both are historic Spanish football clubs, founded over 125 years ago. Specifically, FC Barcelona was established in 1899, while its neighboring club was born a year later, in 1900. Furthermore, both teams were among the founding members of LALIGA in 1929.

Throughout the 95-year history of LALIGA EA SPORTS, FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol de Barcelona have faced each other 179 times in the top flight. Looking at the results, the Azulgranas are the clear dominators of THE BARCELONA DERBY, boasting 105 victories, while the Pericos have secured a win on 34 occasions. The two teams have drawn 40 times in the competition.

LALIGA titles won by FC Barcelona against RCD Espanyol

On three occasions, FC Barcelona has been crowned LALIGA EA SPORTS champion in front of their cross-town rivals. The first time was in the 1948/49 season, when FC Barcelona played for the LALIGA title against RCD Espanyol. The Barcelona derby is always exciting, but when you add the stakes of a final, it becomes an unforgettable match. That campaign featured a legendary Catalan derby where the Azulgranas became champions after a 2-1 victory at Les Corts. The ‘Culé’ legend César Rodríguez was responsible for scoring both winning goals, coming back from an initial 0-1 deficit. With this victory, the Blaugranas added another league championship to their trophy cabinet, overtaking Valencia CF.

The second occasion came more than 75 years later. In the 2022/23 campaign, the FC Barcelona side coached by Xavi Hernández was aiming for its 27th title and played at the RCDE Stadium on Matchday 34. A win would clinch the title, and the Culé club was a steamroller, sealing the game before halftime (0-3) with a brace from Lewandowski and another goal from Balde. In the second half, Koundé extended the lead, and RCD Espanyol later pulled back two goals to make it 2-4.

And just two years later, a nearly identical situation occurred: Matchday 36 of LALIGA 24/25. FC Barcelona was one win away from their 28th title with a match in Cornellá. Lamine Yamal at the start of the second half and Fermín in stoppage time secured the LALIGA EA SPORTS title (0-2).

The 'Tamudazo' in the 2006/07 season

An unforgettable encounter between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol left a completely opposite taste in the mouths of the Culé fans. The 2006/07 season was one of the tightest in the history of LALIGA EA SPORTS. That campaign, FC Barcelona lost a total of five points against RCD Espanyol. At the old Perico home, the Montjuïc Stadium, the locals managed to win the Barcelona derby 3-1. However, madness would strike in the return derby when Raúl Tamudo, captain and legend of the Blanquiazul side, managed to equalize the match at the Camp Nou with a late goal (2-2). This was a crucial blow that, combined with a Ruud van Nistelrooy goal for Real Madrid at La Romareda in Zaragoza, led the Merengues to claim the title.

The biggest win in the Barcelona Derby

FC Barcelona holds a positive overall record in THE BARCELONA DERBY in the 90+ years since it was first played in LALIGA, but it was RCD Espanyol who recorded the largest victory in the derby: an incredible 6-0 win in April 1951.

Ernesto Valverde, player and manager for both clubs

Ernesto Valverde is part of the history of THE BARCELONA DERBY. The current Athletic Club coach holds the honor of having worn the colors of both teams as a player and managing both as a coach. As a footballer, he was part of one of the best Perico squads in history from 1986 to 1988, during which the Blanquiazules reached a UEFA Cup final and finished third in LALIGA EA SPORTS. The following season, he signed for Johan Cruyff’s FC Barcelona, where he played from 1988 to 1990, winning a Cup Winners' Cup and a Copa del Rey.

Nearly two decades later, now as a manager, he took charge of RCD Espanyol between 2006 and 2008, leading the team once again to a UEFA Cup final. In the 2017-18 season, the coach from Extremadura joined the Azulgrana side to win two LALIGA EA SPORTS titles, one Copa del Rey, and one Spanish Super Cup. Despite his time at FC Barcelona, Valverde left a lasting mark on Perico history, and proof of this is that Gate 89 at the RCDE Stadium still bears his name.