The second Barcelona-Espanyol behind closed doors in history

Although the cause itself is novel, COVID-19, this Wednesday will not be curiously the first Barcelona-Espanyol in history to be played behind closed doors. Not even the first in official competition. Be the second, 95 years after the previous one, which took place in the extinct stadium of Les Corts, on the sixth day of the twenty-second Catalunya Championship.

To get to that party without an audience on January 15, 1925, you have to go back two more months, until the November 23, 1924. That was the date originally assigned. for the meeting between Barça and parrots. A derby that generated a lot of expectation, with 30,000 followers filling the stands after spending, in many cases, all night queuing to buy tickets and, in some cases, pay 20 pesetas in resale, a fortune of the time.

TO six days of her silver wedding, Barcelona could not afford a stumble against Espanyol, who commanded the classification. But the stumble was given by the great thrashingr Paulino Alcántara, who in a load (legal, as they were all in the old regulation) Ricardo Saprissa fractured his jaw. He even fell unconscious. The Catalans remained in numerical inferiority, who shortly before the break would see their team reduced to nine members, with the expulsion of Josep Samitier. So decreed Pelayo Serrano de la Mata, the Basque referee whom the Catalan Federation had sent to Barcelona from Bilbaor, glimpsing that it would be a hot derby … Although not up to that point.

He threw the 'locust man' for responding with a kick to Patricio Caicedo's previous entry. Such a controversial decision that even Ricardo Zamora, parakeet but intimate goalkeeper of Samitier (both had agreed at Barça) tried to convince the referee to think twice.

It was 0-0 and the break was approaching. But, above all, the warlike climate of the party began to flare up. In the field, and in the stands. A good part of the Barcelona fans began to throw everything they had on hand: pieces of wood, chairs, small stones and, especially, coins. until one hit his target, Pelayo Serrano. Specifically, in his bald spot. It coincided with the beep that decreed rest. And the referee never came back. The Basque braid, who feared for its integrity, suspended the match, which would already pass to posterity as the derby of the small change.

In the middle of Primo de Rivera's dictatorship, the federation proposed to repeat the meeting entirely. Joaquín Milans del Bosch, civil governor of Barcelona, ​​accepted it on one condition: that took place outside Barcelona or behind closed doors. The second option was chosen, with reinforcements from the Civil Guard just in case, and not without reluctance. Those of Hans Gamper, the president of Barcelona, for losing the advantage granted by playing with fans. Those of the Spanish, why Barcelona was alleging calendar problems up to turn it into the longest derby in history.

That's how he January 15, 1925 the first Barcelona-Espanyol without an audience was finally disputed. Or almost. As it is now in LaLiga, About 200 spectators gathered at Les Corts among executives, staff of the Catalan Federation and journalists. Those who narrated el 0-1 by José Luis Zabala. The victory of the historic meeting was for Espanyol, although the catalan championship (which also gave access to the Spanish Cup) Barcelona would take him after a great second lap.