The last time Espanyol ruined a party for Madrid

Everything is ready at the Santiago Bernabéu to celebrate a party on saturday after the game against Espanyol. Real Madrid needs to add a point to be mathematically champion, and the blue and white team, which has only won 4.25% of the games played as a visitor against the white team in this competition and this course is one of the worst away from home, does not seem to be an extraordinary opposition. But history has already provided other moments in which Espanyol has ruined a party for Real Madridalthough in this particular case it is only to postpone it.

You have to go back to June 1940, when the country was still recovering from the Civil War. Football resumed its activity with a league in which Espanyol finished fifth but lost a historic opportunity to win due to a tragic accident after a match in Seville that caused several players injuries that prevented him from finishing the championship. The Blue and Whites were leaders with seven games to go, but lost five of their last matches. Fate would bring them revenge in the Copa del Rey, where they were able to lift a title, ultimately the second in their history at that time.

After removing to Levante Gimnàstico, Celta de Vigo, FC Barcelona and ValenciaPatricio Caicedo’s team would play the final on the last day of June 1940 at the Vallecas stadium against Real Madrid trained by Paco Bru and led by Quincoces. Although it hadn’t been the best year, the Whites were favorites because of their history and because they also reached the final undefeated. They also played at home, so they would have more support in the stands. But the illusion of an Espanyol that wanted to vindicate itself made the difference.

“On Friday night, going to Madrid, on the train with don Genaro de la Riva (president) and his brother-in-law Isamat, we celebrated the verbena toasting the Spaniard, considering him champion of Spain beforehand. We were not mistaken in our optimism. One thing must be highlighted. Trías played a huge game in Madrid. He deflected a corner ball that was an unavoidable goal. Zamora in his time would not have improved that intervention“, Dr. Amigó highlighted the chronicle of Mundo Deportivo on June 3 of that year.

The game was a “gentlemanly” battle, according to the chronicles, in which both teams deserved to get the victory but finally fell to Espanyol’s side in extra time. The party had a clear protagonist. Gabriel Jorge, Espanyol’s Canarian midfielder, international, who had fought just a year before in the Battle of Aranjuez and that day was a general on the pitch. He scored two goals in regulation time and assisted Mas to score the decisive goal in extra time (2-3). “There are no reasons for the madridistas to tear their hair“, explained ABC on June 2, after verifying the magnificent team that Espanyol had and it shone with light.