The two faces of football meet tonight in Cornellá in one of the most important derbies for the two teams in recent years. Barcelona landed at the RCDE Stadium with the intention of celebrating the League, of achieving a victory that would allow them to mathematically close the competition with four days to go before the end of the season. The objective of Espanyol, on the other hand, is salvation. Emergencies and needs for the locals, to whom a new setback would intensify the sensation of vertigo and drowning. Victory would not take them out of the relegation zone but it would allow them to look over the edge of the well. Penultimate in the table with 31 points, they are also awaiting what Valencia (34 points) does this afternoon in Vigo and Valladolid (35 points) against Sevilla. In not too distant times, Espanyol enjoyed trying to put a stick in the wheels of the Barça team. ‘El Tamudazo’ (a goal to equalize by Tamudo on the penultimate day of the 2006-07 season allowed Madrid to win that League by goal average) exemplifies this rivalry. Today, the blue and white team practically risks their lives. «It is a day to feel even more proud than ever to be from Espanyol, for people to see that we left absolutely everything behind. To feel more proud than ever to be from Espanyol, ”Luis García spurred the parakeet social mass from the press room. The Barcelona fans are smacking their lips at the possibility of collateral damage that they can inflict on Espanyol with a victory that, in addition to serving to win a League that has not been held in Canaletes for four years, can humiliate their neighbors and bring them dangerously close to the relegation to second division Xavi Hernández, however, tries to cool things down. «I am excited to win the League regardless of whether it is against Espanyol. We will have won it against all our rivals, not only against them, even if it motivates the culé. For me, winning a League weighs more, I don’t care at home, away, in the field of Espanyol, Real Madrid or Getafe. But for the culés it will be a plus. Those of us inside value the general work, not winning it in a derby, “said the man from Egar after the morning training session. Related News Standard football If Sergio Busquets: Barcelona’s golden era loses its last vestige Sergi Font Clave in the club’s successes over the last 15 years, although always in the shadow of great stars, the midfielder makes his farewell official at the end of the season Barça coach is already breathing easy. He knows he has five chances to win the title but he doesn’t want to delay it and he doesn’t fear a relaxation of the team. “We are at 200 percent. We train at full speed. There is a lot of desire to win the League. It is the first opportunity to win it. It would be a great season. Life is also going for us, at least the same as Espanyol », he pointed out. An assertion that had a quick response from Luis García, who notices great differences: «When you risk everything and they can get the League without playing or within a week or two, it is clear that we do not play the same thing. With relegation you risk everything. We need calm and be aware that it is a derby. The rivalry and how much the two teams are at stake did not prevent cordiality from reigning in the traditional meeting between the two coaches every time a Catalan derby is played. It must be borne in mind that beyond having been rivals on the pitch when they were players, the two did the coaching course together in Madrid, and they appreciate each other. In fact, Xavi spared no praise for his namesake: «Espanyol has succeeded with Luis García, his proposal is one of the best I heard in the coaching course. They defend well, they come out well on the counter, they keep the ball well, it will be difficult. Busquets’ last derby Beyond the sporting field, this derby will be the last for Busquets, who this week announced that he will not continue at Barça as of June 30, and the first in Cornellá without Gerard Piqué, who decided to retire in November against the little role he had in the team. Precisely, the center-back, who has never hidden his animosity towards Espanyol, was one of the targets of the parakeet stands, who chanted for him every time he visited the RCDE Stadium. Curiously, Piqué could add his ninth League title with Barcelona, which is why Xavi assured that they will invite him to the celebrations that take place. The footballer, at the close of this edition, did not plan to go to Cornellá today.
2023-05-13 22:49:42
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