Barcelona fans are readying themselves a party of monumental proportions on Sunday, where they could seal a first La Liga title in four years. However, fans making the short hop across the city to bear witness to their side lifting the trophy at Espanyol have been banned from wearing club colours.
Sporting the Blaugrana (red and blue) of Barcelona will automatically deny you entry to Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium on Sunday, according to reports in Catalonia.
The La Liga champions elect have enjoyed a special resurgence in the league, despite disappointing exits in both the Copa Del Rey and Champions League. Returning legend Xavi has masterminded a rapid rebuild that sees them coasting at the summit, 13 points clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid, all the while having conceded just 11 goals in 33 games.
A long-waited 17th domestic triumph is imminent, and they can secure the title when they face city rivals Espanyol this weekend in the typically ferocious Derbi Barceloní.
The hosts find themselves in a must-win scenario of their own – they currently sit three points from safety, and the agony of relegation in 2020, which coincidentally was inflicted in a 1-0 defeat to Barcelona, will still be fresh in the mind.
However, they will take comfort in the fact they walked away with a point in the reverse of this fixture in December, which also saw 13 bookings and a red card for each team.
In that game however, Barca elected to ban Espanyol fans from donning the white and blue of their club colours.
“The sale of tickets for Espanyol fans is prohibited,” a read a statement on the club website. “Likewise, fans who come with Espanyol clothing or emblems will be denied entry to the stadium.”
It is likely a direct result of the highly controversial scenario that unfolded in their Europa League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt last season, where some 30,000 travelling fans flooded the Nou Camp with banners and away shirts.
Incredible photo of the 30,000 Frankfurt fans at Barcelona last night. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/809Q8ahrTU
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) April 15, 2022
The club have taken measures to avoid a repeat of that night, but Espanyol have been keen to impose the same restrictions on Barcelona fans this weekend.
Radio Catalunya report that Los Periquitos have already put the message out on their website that those sporting the red and blue of Barcelona will be banned from entering the stadium, despite the potential for title celebrations.
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