The Catalan derby will return to the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium for the first time in 16 years this weekend. FC Barcelona will receive the 'parakeet' team in Montjuïc, which was the headquarters of the 'blue and white' team since 1997, after its farewell to the Estadi de Sarrià, until 2009, when the Cornellà-El Prat was inaugurated.
The derby played on September 27, 2008 ended with a Barça victory (1-2) with goals from Thierry Henry and Leo Messi in the second half. Ferran Corominas had put Espanyol ahead in the 20th minute. That season, Barça won the treble with Pep Guardiola on the bench, while its neighbor finished tenth in the table.
For Barça, the balance so far in Montjuïc against Espanyol has been positive, with 6 wins, 4 draws and only 2 defeats in the 12 seasons that the 'budgies' spent at the Lluís Companys. Last season there was no derby, since the 'blue and white' team was in the Second Division.
Barça hopes to repeat the victory of the last derby
For Barça, Sunday will be the first derby since May 14, 2023. That day, the team led by Xavi Hernández finished off the 'parakeets' (2-4) with three goals in the first half scored by Robert Lewandowski (double) and Alejandro Balde.
Jules Koundé increased the difference in the second half, and at the end, Javi Puado and Joselu scored for an Espanyol that ended up being relegated that season. The victory also allowed Barça to celebrate four days before the end of the tournament.
At home, the last precedent for Barça was a draw at Camp Nou (1-1), in a duel played on December 31, 2022, just after the World Cup in Qatar. Marcos Alonso had put the Catalans ahead at the start of the match, but a penalty from Joselu in the 73rd minute sealed the tie in a very heated clash that ended with 11 yellow cards and 2 red cards, in disastrous refereeing by Mateu Lahoz.
In the League, the record in the Catalan derby greatly favors the culés, with 89 wins, 10 draws and only 9 defeats on Barça's field and a total of 102 wins, 40 draws and 34 losses in 176 games. The last victory for the 'blue and white' team was on February 21, 2009 (1-2) at Camp Nou, with two goals from Iván de la Peña. Yaya Touré scored that day for the locals.