Espanyol Captain Sends Warning to Barcelona Regarding La Liga Title

Espanyol, despite their precarious position in the relegation battle, have made it clear that they will not be handing Barcelona an easy victory or an opportunity to celebrate the La Liga title this weekend.

As the two Catalan rivals prepare to clash at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium on May 14, Barcelona is on the verge of clinching the league title for the first time since 2019. The anticipation is high, with plans already in place for a city parade if Barcelona emerges victorious against their struggling neighbors.

While Barcelona could secure the title before kickoff if Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid falter in their own matches, Espanyol’s captain, Sergi Darder, has emphasized that his team will fight tooth and nail to delay Barcelona’s celebrations.

According to reports from Diario AS, Darder expressed the team’s determination, saying, “No one has more motivation than us.” He added, “I don’t care if I go ‘too far’ in this type of match. We must have control and finish with 11 players on the pitch, but for what’s at stake, we cannot leave 1% behind in the dressing room. If every match is a final, this is multiplied by a lot! I want the team to go out and give their all, knowing it’s not just a party. We need three points not just to prevent Barca from winning the league, but to save ourselves. We don’t like things celebrated in our faces.”

Espanyol’s chances of survival remain slim as they enter the final stretch of the season, and a defeat to Barcelona could push them further away from safety, leaving them with a three-point gap and just five games remaining to turn their fortunes around.

The stage is set for a fiercely contested derby, with Espanyol fully aware of the stakes and the significance of their role in potentially delaying Barcelona’s title celebrations. The battle for points and survival will be intense, making it a crucial match for both teams.