The Derbi BarcelonÃÂ (; , ; "Barcelonian derby") is the name given to football matches between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol. Both clubs are located in the Barcelona metropolitan area, Spain.
In the first half of the 20th century during the Miguel Primo de Rivera dictatorship (1923âÂÂ1930), FC Barcelona was the embodiment of the oppressed Catalan sentiment, in stark contrast to RCD Espanyol which was more aligned with the central authority.
In 1918, the municipalities of Catalonia promoted a campaign requesting the Spanish government a Statute of Autonomy. FC Barcelona joined that request and the Catalan press explained it by saying "FC Barcelona has become the club of Catalonia". The other team of the city, RCD Espanyol, were dissociated from the claim.
On numerous occasions RCD Espanyol have complained of an unfavorable treatment which is sometimes directly offensive according to them, towards the club in favor of FC Barcelona by some public media dependent on the Generalitat of Catalonia like TV3.
Despite these differences in ideology, the derbi has always been more relevant to Espanyol supporters than Barcelona ones due to the difference in objectives.
Though it is the most played local derby in the history of La Liga, it is also the most unbalanced, with Barcelona overwhelmingly dominant. In the league table, Espanyol has only managed to finish above Barça on three occasions in almost 70 years and the only all-Catalan Copa del Rey final was won by Barça in 1957. Espanyol has the consolation of achieving the largest margin win with a 6âÂÂ0 in 1951.
In 1996, Barcelona came out on top when the teams were drawn together in the cup semi-finals, although they lost the final to Atlético Madrid. In 2000, the possibility of another derby final evaporated after Barcelona forfeited the second leg of their semi, coincidentally also against Atlético Madrid, in protest at fixture congestion which badly weakened their squad; Espanyol overcame both Real Madrid in their semi and Atlético in the final. The Pericos also claimed the trophy in 2006 and qualified for the 2006 Supercopa de España where they met league champions Barcelona â the Blaugrana winning 4âÂÂ0 on aggregate.
On 8 June 2007, Espanyol achieved a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Barça in the penultimate day of the championship, making it possible for Real Madrid to win the 2006âÂÂ07 La Liga in their next match at the Bernabeu. This match is popularly remembered with the name of Tamudazo, for Raúl Tamudo, the Espanyol player who scored the goal for the draw. Espanyol achieved a 2âÂÂ1 win against Barça during 2008âÂÂ09, becoming the first team to defeat Barcelona at Camp Nou in their treble-winning season.
Espanyol moved to their new RCDE Stadium in 2009, but it was not until their tenth meeting with Barcelona at their new arena that they were able to win a derby fixture (three draws, six defeats), winning 1âÂÂ0 in the 2017âÂÂ18 Copa del Rey quarter-final, first leg on 17 January 2018. However, Barcelona overturned this 2âÂÂ0 at the Camp Nou the following week to go through in the tie, the tenth time in succession (since 1961) that Barça had progressed in the domestic Cup. Three years earlier, Barcelona had also won the 2014âÂÂ15 Copa del Rey by beating Athletic Bilbao, with the Basques having ended Espanyol's hopes, and the chance of a Catalan showpiece, in the semi-finals.
As of 2019, Barças Lionel Messi who made his debut in the Derby, has scored 25 goals against Espanyol, the most in the history of the derby.
Espanyol lost 1âÂÂ0 to Barcelona on 8 July 2020 to be relegated to the Segunda División for the first time since 1994.
On 14 May 2023, Barcelona won the 2022âÂÂ23 La Liga championship after defeating Espanyol on their home ground. During Barcelona's celebrations, the team quickly ran into the lockers after Espanyol fans invaded the pitch and disrupted Barças celebrations. On 15 May 2025, Barcelona repeated their feat by winning the 2024âÂÂ25 La Liga title, again defeating Espanyol on their home ground.
⢠Total:Espanyol with 4 higher finishes, FC Barcelona with 86 higher finishes (as of the end of the 2024âÂÂ25 season).