The name of RCD Espanyol is appropriate, considering it was the first Spanish club formed exclusively by Spanish fans and not by expatriates, which was common practice at the turn of the 20th century. However, its neighbour FC Barcelona overshadows the Catalan team.
La Liga was never conquered by Espanyol, even though they have played for 80 seasons in the top Spanish league. Nevertheless, Espanyol supporters value the four Copa del Rey trophies, won in 1928–29, 1940, 1999–2000, and 2005–06 seasons. The team has a knack for reaching finals, having got to two UEFA Cup finals in the 1987–88 and 2006–07 campaigns, though they lost both.
Although numerous titles decorate the halls of their archrival, RCD Espanyol is privileged to use Real in its name, thanks to the patronage of the Spanish royal crown, granted in 1912 by Alfonso XIII. The official name is Real Club Deportivo Espanyol de Barcelona. Fans take pride in that fact and even went to great lengths to reinstate their name after the prohibition of using royal symbols in the 1930s.
There is another name for the club in circulation among fans in Barcelona, and that is Parakeets. Several local legends explain the genesis of the nickname. Yet the most convincing is that when the team moved to Sarria Stadium, birds were nesting in the surrounding trees, and fans adapted them as their mascot.
The nickname stuck, but the team changed venues a few times since then, moving to RCDE Stadium in the 2009–10 season. Fans that want to purchase Espanyol tickets can use SeatPick to find cheap tickets and watch live one of the most respected football clubs.
About RCD Espanyol Football Tickets
The Catalan team was founded in 1900 and was based in the Sarria district. Financial issues and occasional name changes marked Espanyol's first decade on the football scene.
Things started settling down in 1909, when Espanyol emerged as a respected football team, becoming a founding member of La Liga in 1928.
The Copa del Rey title in 1929 boosted the initial positive trend. Unfortunately, success did not follow regularly. Although a staple member of Spain's elite league, the closest Espanyol came to the title was their third place finish in the 1932–33 season.
In 1997 the team went looking for a new home after Sarria Stadium and decided on Olímpic de Montjuic, which offered a respectable 45,000 capacity. However, a move followed in the 2009-10 season, when the team uprooted again and adopted as their new home RCDE Stadium, a UEFA-four-star ranked venue.
The lack of results has not waned interest in Espanyol home matches, even though in most seasons, it seems the team is more focused on avoiding relegation than the title.
Fans can buy RCD Espanyol tickets through SeatPick's network of resellers with affordable prices for official tickets to football matches against all La Liga rivals.
Major Rivalry With Barcelona
El Clasico may steal headlines worldwide, but local media favours Derbi Barceloní, the most played derby in La Liga history. The main protagonists are RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona, both teams are from the wider Barcelona urban area.
Espanyol and Barcelona have faced off over 200 times. The majority of their clashes came in La Liga. It is one of the most unbalanced derbies, with Espanyol triumphing less than 50 times.
Top Espanyol Managers
RCD Espanyol is a stable team that usually finds a spot in the middle of the La Liga ranking table. This was upended when Espanyol were relegated twice in 2020 and 2023. On both occasions, Espanyol returned to la Liga at the first time of asking.
It isn't easy to single out a coach or several managers that have helped the team advance. However, a few recognizable names that led the team are Quique Flores, José Antonio Camacho, Javier Clemente and Luis Aragonés.
Famous Footballers that Played for RCD Espanyol
The history-rich club is renowned for nurturing talented players with one of the best youth academies in Spain that has produced several domestic prodigies. Several famous footballers have played for the club, including:
- Raul Tamudo
- Ivan de la Pena
- Philippe Coutinho
- Luis Garcia
- Thomas N'Kono
- Mauricio Pochettino
RCDE Stadium Barcelona, Spain
Stadium Name: RCDE Stadium
Capacity: 40,000
Address: Baix Llobregat 100, 08940 Cornellà de Llobregat
Description: RCDE Stadium opened in 2009 after three years of construction. In 2010, the Venue of the Year award validated the project. It's primarily a football facility, but live events like music concerts get hosted. The all-seater football stadium has a 40,000 capacity.
Best Way to Travel
One of the largest international football clubs is situated in the suburb of Cornellà de Llobregat. RCDE Stadium is on the southwestern edge of Barcelona, about 6 miles from the city centre. Commuting to the venue will not be an issue as there are reliable public transportation options.
By Metro
Metro lines L5 and L8 stop at Cornellà Centre station, a 15-minute walk from the stadium.
By Tram
Station Cornellà Centre or Les Aïgues are the preferred disembarkation points when arriving with trams 1 and 2.
By Bus
If you don't mind the lack of elbow room on game day, buses 67, 95, and L82 will transport you to the venue.