Friday, January 2, 2026, 11:47
The Catalan derby between Espanyol and Barcelona on the first day of the year was already marked as one of the hottest due to the return of Joan García to Cornellà after his signing for the Barça team last summer. Much had been said about the possible reception and the tension that will be felt in the ‘perico’ fiefdom with the presence of the goalkeeper.
However, some statements from Pere Milla, Espanyol player, have heated up the hours before the game even more. In the comedy program ‘Perico Que Vola’, on Betevé, the striker responded to a question asked from the audience that has not left anyone indifferent. When asked which player he would like to “step on” in the derby – Joan García or Lamine Yamal – Milla took a few seconds before answering, finally opting for the young Barça footballer. The response caused laughter and applause on the set.
After the comment, the presenters joked with the possible headline that could emerge the next day: “Pere Milla wants to step on Lamine Yamal.” The footballer himself went a step further and added with a laugh: “Pere Milla is going to step on Lamine Yamal”, further fueling the controversy, despite the clearly satirical tone of the moment.
The clash, which will be played this Saturday, has been classified as a high-risk match due to the history between both fans. Espanyol has announced a reinforcement of the usual security measures, with exhaustive controls at accesses and the installation of protective nets in both goals to prevent objects from being thrown onto the playing field.
Shots to the head of Joan García
During the same program, the provocative tone continued when the presenters invited the guests to shoot a ball against a cardboard silhouette with the image of Joan García. In the game they gave maximum points to shots aimed at the Barcelona goalkeeper’s head.
This situation has caused tension because from the Barça side it is understood that violence has been incited. In fact, Espanyol, in addition to the security measures on the pitch, made a statement this week in which it reminded fans of the sanctions they may face if they throw objects. Fines ranging from 150 to 650,000 euros if they disturb order or security during the match.
A Catalan referee
Víctor García Verdura will be the referee of the derby between Espanyol and Barcelona. The decision reaffirms one of the great bets of the new CTA led by Fran Soto, which is none other than ending territoriality in arbitration appointments. It will be the fourth time this season that a referee from the same autonomous community as the two teams facing each other on the field will officiate the match. The Málaga-Córdoba match on matchday 13 of the Second Division was already refereed by Manuel Orellana Cid from Seville, while the Sevilla-Betis match was directed by José Luis Munuera Montero from Jaen and this Friday Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias from Madrid will referee the derby between Rayo Vallecano and Getafe.
