A first division derby in exile: "We deserve to have a decent field"

BarcelonaA top-tier derby. This is the slogan of Europa's campaign to promote this Saturday's match (6:30 PM, Esport3) against Sant Andreu. The two Barcelona teams will face each other for the first time in the Primera Federación. “It is great work by many people. First, the sporting side: both teams have earned the right to be in the third tier of state football. Also because both clubs have done things very well organizationally. And finally, the fans, who are of a superior category. What will be experienced on Saturday will be the envy of many other derbies,” states Àlex Cano, Europa's captain. “Living this is impressive, it makes us feel proud and very professional,” remarks Alberto García, captain of UE Sant Andreu.

Both footballers met on Thursday at the Torre Glòries viewpoint, a neutral point, as it is found at the same distance from Nou Sardenya (Europa's pitch) as it is from Narcís Sala (Sant Andreu's pitch). Unfortunately, however, the derby will not be played at either of the two stadiums. The Gràcia-based entity has been exiled since January to Can Dragó while waiting to have natural grass on their pitch, an essential requirement to compete in the Primera Federación. “It hurts us not to be able to enjoy a Europa-Sant Andreu at the Nou Sardenya. For us, it is vital to play at home. In the return leg, we will go to the Sant Andreu pitch [which since this November has natural grass], where we also really like to play. Both teams deserve to have a decent pitch for the category,” claims Cano.

The lack of infrastructure in Barcelona has forced the match to be moved to Cornellà de Llobregat. The RCDE Stadium, where the First Division Espanyol plays as a local, is the chosen venue for the derby, which will be the most high-profile in history. The Gràcia club has already sold more than 15,000 tickets. Although the initially planned capacity was 14,000 people, the great demand has forced Europa to expand the available capacity up to 16,000 seats. “It is a luxury to be able to enjoy this pitch. Some of us Europa players already played two years ago against Espanyol B. On Saturday we will all enjoy it together and I believe that in a few years we will be even more,” trusts the escapulat captain.

Two teams in need of points

Sportingly, it is also a very important match for both entities. After a dream season –in which they managed to play the semifinals of the play-off to get promoted to the Second Division–, Europa is sixteenth, in relegation positions, three points away from Sant Andreu, which is outside the red zone of the standings. “It will surely be the most high-profile derby in history, but in the end they are three points just as important as those of last week and those of the next matchday”, assures Albertito, as the four-striped captain is known.

Furthermore, both teams arrive after having changed their coach. Sant Andreu dismissed Natxo González, the man behind the promotion to Primera Federación last season, on October 28th. Javi Rey took over the reins of the team and has accumulated one victory (2-0 against Teruel) and one draw (2-2 in Cartagena) in his first two matches. “Things haven't changed much yet, it's difficult to make many changes in one week. Javi has fit in very well in the dressing room and we are adapting a bit to his ideas,” summarized García.

At Europa, on the other hand, the change on the bench came earlier. Josep Maria Gené, who had taken over the bench of the first team at the club in the summer after the departure of Aday Benítez, was dismissed on September 21st. In his place came Luis Blanco, who has added nine points in seven matches, as well as qualifying the club for the next round of the Copa del Rey. “Everything that is proposed is different. Before, we were trying to play out from the back in a category where this type of proposal is complicated. Now we are trying to exploit our virtues and I think we are finding it,” analyzes the player from the club.

Precedents, however, are useless in derbies. “I always tell new players that, to know what the derby is, they have to experience it,” warns Albertito. “I have been trying for a long time to make my teammates imagine what this type of duel is like. It is the most special match they have ever played. Not only because of the number of fans that will come, but because of the quality. Both sets of fans will be chanting the whole time. There is not a single second of silence,” confesses Cano.