Girona, determined to unseat Espanyol as the second football club in Catalonia

BarcelonaHistory, like loose cotton, does not lie: Espanyol has earned its reputation as the second football club in Catalonia. His track record backs it up: 87 seasons in the First Division, with 2,804 games and 995 victories. Four Copes del Rey shine on his record. As if that wasn’t enough, in just six seasons another Catalan team – other than Barça – has managed to be above the white-and-blues in the standings: Sabadell, on four occasions (1943-44, 1946-47, 1968-69 and 1969-70); Gimnàstic de Tarragona, in one (1947-48) and, finally, Girona, the only one capable of reaching this milestone in the last half century.

The white-and-reds have a more modest history in the elite: three seasons, 102 games and 31 victories. But their present positions them as a strong contender to discuss, from now on, the status of the second best Catalan club in Primera. On Saturday (2 p.m., DAZN), in Montilivi, Girona will have the opportunity to move seven points clear of Espanyol and get a little closer to the goal of staying up. Consolidating in the First Division is the main objective of the club since the entry into its capital of the City Football Group. The arrival of Chen Yansheng at Espanyol, on the other hand, has not served to consolidate Espanyol in the top-8 of the League. The limitations of the Chinese businessman to invest in his club contrast with the economic and sporting potential of the group that controls Girona.

The white-and-blues, who have relegation to just one point, have been accusing the classification of sports management that can be improved for several years. Espanyol’s current squad cost 46.9 million euros, more than double the 22 million that Girona invested in theirs. In recent years, the people of Girona have benefited from the sporting synergies created by the global network of City Football Group clubs. Thus, he has obtained several players on loan or free: from Couto to Castellanos, passing through the former of Espanyol Yangel Herrera, Pablo Moreno, Bustos or Aleix Garcia, among others. Some additions low cost which allow them to focus resources on other reinforcements. Espanyol, apart from the inexhaustible squad that it has, has had to resort to free players after having invested a lot of money in footballers who have not given the expected performance. The League allows the white-and-blues to spend 69.9 million this year, compared to Girona’s 43.7. Of course, the cost of both templates does not match their real market value: that of Girona is valued at around 126 million, above the 113 of that of the Spaniards, according to the specialized portal Transfermarkt.

Espanyol has twice as many members as Girona

In terms of following, Espanyol has twice as many members (27,000 as compared to Girona’s 13,000), followers on social networks (4.5 million for 2.5) and also the average number of spectators in the current League (20,205 to 11,110). All in all, the white-and-blues do not fill even half of Cornellà-El Prat (49.8%), while Girona raises this percentage to 82%. The white-and-reds have in mind to renovate and expand the stadium – owned by the municipality -, a project they have postponed because they have prioritized the development of a new sports city in Vilablareix where they will invest 25 million. They currently train in La Vinya, in facilities provided by Vilobí d’Onyar City Council. Espanyol, which does own a stadium and sports city, is looking for a new plot of land to house its professional teams. A project conditioned by the present and the immediate future: staying in Primera. Montilivi can mark a turning point.