Spanish Glory: An RCD Espanyol Story | Presented by BigJDotCom

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I have picked up FIFA 19 and have decided to start a dynasty with Real Club Deportivo Espanyol de Barcelona. Located in Barcelona and founded in 1900, they have spent 80 seasons in the premier division of Spanish football. They have zero championships in the top level and hold the distinction of being the club with the longest tenure in La Liga without winning the title. The club has participated in seven UEFA Cups, reaching the finals twice. In 1988, they lost to Beyer Leverkusen on penalty kicks (3-2) after a 3-0 home win and 0-3 road loss. In 2007, they lost to Spanish side Sevilla on penalty kicks (3-1) after being tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after 120 minutes.

RCD Espanyol has won four Copa del Rey, most recently in 2006 defeating Zaragosa 4-1 in Madrid.

Their rival is naturally Barcelona. This rivalry is bigger for RCD Espanyol fans than Barcelona ones as Espanyol has finished above Barcelona in the table just three times in over 70 seasons.

The club will be managed by former RCD Espanyol icon Raul Tamudo, who retired from professional football in 2015. The 41-year-old made 389 appearances with RCD Espanyol, scoring 140 goals and leading the club to two Copa del Rey titles.

The club plays it's home matches at RCDE Stadium in the outskirts Barcelona.

We will be focusing on stocking the club with home grown talent. We will setup a scouting network and youth academy within Spain.

I hope that you enjoy!

2018-19 SEASON
The Down Low on the Periquitos:

MANAGER: Raul Tamudo
CAREER RECORD: (0-0-0)
STADIUM: RCDE Stadium (Capacity: 40,500)
RIVALS: Barcelona
TRANSFER BUDGET: $12,098,438
CLUB WORTH: $87,000,000
WEEKLY WAGE BUDGET:
EXPECTATIONS: Finish Mid Table; Reach Round of 32 Copa de Espana; Qualify for UEFA League spot within two seasons

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RCD ESPANYOL RIVALS:

2018-19 La Liga Record: (15-11-12, 56 pts) 7th place
2019-20 La Liga Record: (14-7-5, 49 pts) 4th place

Copa de Espana Record: (4-0-2)
Champions League Record: (0-0-0)
Europa League Record: (6-1-3)
2018 Champions Trophy Tournament: (0-3-0)
2019 European International Cup: (0-2-1)



AJAX (0-1-0)
July 11, 2018: RCD Espanyol 4:4 Ajax (Champions Trophy)


AS SAINT-ETIENNE (0-1-0)
July 14, 2019: RCD Espanyol 1:1 AS Saint-Etienne (European International Cup)


ATALANTA (0-0-1)
July 7, 2019: RCD Espanyol 1:5 Atalanta (European International Cup)


ATHLETIC BILBAO (0-2-1)
Nov 3, 2018: RCD Espanyol 2:2 Athletic Bilbao
Mar 9, 2019: Athletic Bilbao 2:2 RCD Espanyol
Oct 6, 2019: Athletic Bilbao 3:1 RCD Espanyol
Apr 1, 2020:


ATLETICO MADRID (3-0-3)
Dec 21, 2018: Atletico Madrid 0:1 RCD Espanyol
May 4, 2019: RCD Espanyol 0:2 Atletico Madrid
Nov 3, 2019: RCD Espanyol 0:3 Atletico Madrid
Jan 7, 2020: RCD Espanyol 0:3 Atletico Madrid (Copa de Espana)
Jan 15, 2020: Atletico Madrid 1:3 RCD Espanyol (Copa de Espana)
Feb 28, 2020: Atletico Madrid 0:1 RCD Espanyol


FC BARCELONA (2-0-2)
Dec 8, 2018: RCD Espanyol 0:2 FC Barcelona
Mar 23, 2019: FC Barcelona 4:0 RCD Espanyol
Dec 21, 2019: FC Barcelona 0:1 RCD Espanyol
Feb 16, 2020: RCD Espanyol 6:1 FC Barcelona


BESIKTAS JK(0-0-2)
Oct 24, 2019: RCD Espanyol 1:2 Besiktas JK (Europa League)
Nov 7, 2019: Besiktas JK 2:0 RCD Espanyol (Europa League)


CELTA VIGO (2-2-0)
Aug 18, 2018: Celta Vigo 1:1 RCD Espanyol
Apr 25, 2019: RCD Espanyol 1:0 Celta Vigo
Nov 11, 2019: RCD Espanyol 2:1 Celta Vigo
Feb 24, 2020: Celta Vigo 2:2 RCD Espanyol


CLUB BRUGGE (2-0-0)
Sept 19, 2019: Club Brugge 2:3 RCD Espanyol (Europa League)
Nov 28, 2019: RCD Espanyol 5:3 Club Brugge (Europa League)


CORK CITY (2-0-0)
Aug 22, 2019: Cork City 0:3 RCD Espanyol (Europa League)
Aug 29, 2019: RCD Espanyol 2:0 Cork City (Europa League)


DEPORTIVO ALAVES (2-2-1)
Sept 1, 2018: Alaves 1:5 RCD Espanyol
Oct 31, 2018: Alaves 1:2 RCD Espanyol (Copa de Espana)
Dec 4, 2018: RCD Espanyol 1:4 Alaves (Copa de Espana)
Apr 14, 2019: RCD Espanyol 2:2 Alaves
Sept 1, 2019: RCD Espanyol 0:0 Alaves
May 16, 2020:


GETAFE CF (1-2-0)
Dec 1, 2018: Getafe FC 1:1 RCD Espanyol
Apr 3, 2019: RCD Espanyol 3:1 Getafe CF
Oct 19:2019: RCD Espanyol 1:1 Getafe CF
May 11, 2020:


GIRONA (3-0-0)
Nov 24, 2018: RCD Espanyol 2:1 Girona
Apr 7, 2019: Girona 1:3 RCD Espanyol
Oct 27, 2019: Girona 0:1 RCD Espanyol
Apr 26, 2020:


LAVANTE UD (1-0-1)
Sept 16, 2018: RCD Espanyol 0:3 Levante UD
Apr 21, 2019: Levante UD 0:5 RCD Espanyol


CD LEGANES (1-1-0)
Jan 5, 2019: RCD Espanyol 3:2 CD Leganes
May 11, 2019: CD Leganes 2:2 RCD Espanyol


LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW (1-0-1)
Feb 13, 2020: Lokomotiv Moscow 1:0 RCD Espanyol (Europa League)
Feb 20, 2020: RCD Espanyol 2:1 Lokomotiv Moscow (Europa League)


MALMO FF (1-1-0)
Oct 3, 2019: RCD Espanyol 3:0 Malmo FF (Europa League)
Dec 12, 2019: Malmo FF 3:3 RCD Espanyol (Europa League)


NEWCASTLE UNITED (0-1-0)
July 10, 2019: Newcastle United 2:2 RCD Espanyol (European International Cup)


RAYO MAJADAHONDA (2-0-0)
Oct 30, 2019: RCD Espanyol 3:0 Rayo Majadahonda (Copa de Espana)
Dec 4, 2019: Rayo Majadahonda 0:3 RCD Espanyol Copa de Espana)


RAYO VALLECANO (2-1-0)
Sept 30, 2018: Rayo Vallecano 1:1 RCD Espanyol
Feb 9, 2019: RCD Espanyol 2:0 Rayo Vallecano
Aug 25, 2019: Rayo Vallecano 2:3 RCD Espanyol
Mar 18, 2020:


REAL BETIS (0-2-1)
Dec 16, 2018: RCD Espanyol 2:3 Real Betis
Apr 28, 2019: Real Betis 1:1 RCD Espanyol
Dec 8, 2019: Real Betis 2:2 RCD Espanyol
Apr 22, 2020:


REAL MADRID (2-0-2)
Sept 26, 2018: Real Madrid 1:2 RCD Espanyol
Jan 26, 2019: RCD Espanyol 1:3 Real Madrid
Sept 24, 2019: Real Madrid 1:2 RCD Espanyol
Jan 26, 2020: RCD Espanyol 0:2 Real Madrid


REAL SOCIEDAD (2-1-0)
Jan 13, 2019: Real Sociedad 1:2 RCD Espanyol
May 18, 2019: RCD Espanyol 3:3 Real Sociedad
Nov 24, 2019: Real Sociedad 0:3 RCD Espanyol
Mar 15, 2020:


REAL SPORTING (0-1-0)
Jan 18, 2020, 2018: Real Sporting 1:1 RCD Espanyol
Apr 11, 2020:


REAL VALLADOLID (3-0-0)
Oct 27, 2018: Real Valladolid 0:1 RCD Espanyol
Mar 3, 2019: RCD Espanyol 1:0 Real Valladolid
Sept 28, 2019: Real Valladolid 2:3 RCD Espanyol
Apr 5, 2020:


SD EIBAR (1-1-1)
Sept 29, 2018: RCD Espanyol 3:2 SD Eibar
Jan 19, 2019: SD Eibar 3:0 RCD Esapnyol
Sept 14, 2019: SD Eibar 1:1 RCD Espanyol
May 9, 2020:


SD HUESCA (1-1-0)
Oct 21, 2018: SD Huesca 2:3 RCD Espanyol
Feb 23, 2019: RCD Espanyol 1:1 SD Huesca


SEVILLA FC (0-0-3)
Nov 11, 2018: Sevilla FC 3:1 RCD Espanyol
Mar 17, 2019: RCD Espanyol 2:5 Sevilla FC
Aug 18, 2019: RCD Espanyol 1:4 Sevilla FC
Mar 21, 2020:


UD LAS PALMAS (2-0-0)
Jan 11, 2020: RCD Espanyol 1:0 UD Las Palmas
Feb 9, 2020: UD Las Palmas 0:3 RCD Espanyol


VALENCIA CF (2-0-2)
Aug 26, 2018: RCD Espanyol 0:2 Valenica CF
Feb 17, 2019: Valencia CF 3:2 RCD Espanyol
Sept 22, 2019: RCD Espanyol 1:0 Valencia CF
Feb 1, 2020: Valencia CF 1:3 RCD Espanyol


VILLARREAL CF (0-2-2)
Oct 7, 2018: RCD Espanyol 1:3 Villarreal CF
Feb 3, 2019: Villarreal 0:0 RCD Espanyol
Dec 1, 2019: RCD Espanyol 0:1 Villarreal CF
Mar 7, 2020: Villarreal CF 2:2 RCD Espanyol


WERDER BREMEN (0-1-0)
July 8, 2018: Werder Bremen 3:3 RCD Espanyol (Champions Trophy)


WOLFSBURG (0-1-0)
July 4, 2018: RCD Espanyol 1:1 Wolfsburg (Champions Trophy)

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RCD ESPANYOL HISTORY

2018-19 Season:
La Liga: (15-12-11) 59 points, 7th place
Copa de Espana: Round of 32 (3:5 Deportivo Alaves)
MVP: Carles Alena, 37 appearances, 7 goals, 8 assists, 8 MOTM, 2 POTM
Recap: RCD Espanyol exceeded preseason expectations with a seventh place finish and qualification for the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League. The club had a disappointing loss in the round of 32 of the Copa de Espana to Deportivo Alaves. New manager Raul Tamudo's youth movement is underway and this club has a bright future.



2018-19 Season:
La Liga Champion: Real Madrid (28-6-4) 90 points
Copa de Espanal Champion: FC Barcelona (defeated Valencia CF 2:1)
Champions League: Manchester City (defeated Juventus 2:1)
Euro League: Sporting CP (defeated Besiktas JK 2:1)
Relegated to Segunda Division: Levante UD, SD Huesca, CD Leganes
Promoted to La Liga: UD Las Palmas, RC Deportivo, Real Sporting
Player of the Year: Antoine Griezmann, Atletico Madrid
Keeper of the Year: Jan Oblak, Atletico Madrid
Manager of the Year: Santiago Solari, Real Madrid

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2018-19 Preseason Roster

FORMATION: 4-1-4-1

This is the preseason roster for RCD Espanyol. The roster looks pretty solid, but the board wants us to sign a crucial 1st team player assigned to midfield or forward, so we may be adding some help up front.

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2018-19 RCD ESPANYOL FIXTURES

RCD Espanyol will open the inaugural season under new manager Raul Tamudo in Holland at the Champions Trophy Tournament. They will be grouped with Ajax (Holland), Wolfsburg (Germany), and Werder Bremen (Germany). The others participating are: PSV (Holland), Feyenoord (Holland), Crystal Palace (England) and OGC Nice (France).

Highlights of their La Liga schedule are the two Derbi Barceloni matches on December 8th at home and March 23 at Camp Nou. They have a brutal stretch of matches in March facing Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Barcelona all in a row.

The club will face Deportivo Alaves in the opening round of the Copa de Espana on October 31 (away) and December 4 (home).

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CHAMPIONS TROPHY TOURNAMENT RECAP

Holland (AP) - RCD Espanyol accepted an invitation to the Champions Trophy Tournament held in the Netherlands. It would be a very good test for new manager Raul Tamudo. Espanyol coul dnot advance past the group stage though, drawing all three matches and finishing in third place in Group A. They drew 1:1 with Wolfsburg, 3:3 with Werder Bremen, then 4:4 with Ajax.

The Ajax game was a thriller as Ajax scored twice in the opening 10 minutes with Espanyol needing a win to advance. They would draw even at 2:2 at the break thanks to goals from Hernan Perez and Pablo Piatti. After Kasper Dolberg put Ajax ahead early in the second half, Sergio Garcia immediately tied the match with a cracker, then Oscar Duarte put Espanyol ahead in the 77th minute and it looked like they would advance. But David Neres picked up a loose ball in the Espanyol box late and struck home the match tying goal in the 88th minute to send Ajax through, and send Espanyol home.

All in all, not a bad tournament, but three draws and eight goals allowed is something that the club will need to work on heading into La Liga play in just over a month.

OGC Nice would go on to win the Champions Trophy, defeating Crystal Palace 2-0 in the final. Ajax fell to OG Nice in the semifinals 2-0, and Crystal Palace defeated Werder Bremen 2-1 in the other semifinal. RCD Espanyol's Estaban Granero was named the player of the tournament. He scored two goals and had two assists to lead all players with four points in the tourney.

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SUMMER TEAM NEWS
Barcelona, ESP (AP) - The 2018-19 season is quickly approaching and RCD Espanyol are getting ready for their first campaign under new manager and club legend, Raul Tamudo. The board of directors is asking for a mid-table finish in Tamudo's first campaign and that seems reasonable. The media is a bit more suspect of Espanyol and Tamudo, feeling that they will finish 13th. Tamudo has already begun to move players that he feels do not fit into the club's future plans as he hopes to build this club up from their youth academy.

RCD Espanyol began the summer by moving a couple of expensive and aging veterans. Hernan Perez was transferred to Ajax after the summer Champions Trophy Tournament for a transfer fee of $11.8M. Center Back David Lopez was transferred to Olympique Marsaille for a transfer fee of $15.3M. The 28-year-old was a projected starter, but manager Raul Tomado felt that the price was too good to pass up and they club can fill in that position with younger, less expensive talent.

32-year-old backup keeper Roberto has been sold to Vitesse for $6M. He could have been in the mix next season as starter Diego Lopez is now 36, but youngster Edu Frias has been coming along nicely so it made Roberto expendable.

The club has loaned young central midfielder Alex Lopez to Feyenoord in the Eredivisie. The 21-year-old was looking for playing time and he should get some there.

The club has added a young potential superstar in Carles Alena from Barcelona. The 20-year-old central midfielder and right winger comes in with a ton of potential and manager Raul Tamudo was thrilled with the acquisition. "We think that Alena could be the centerpiece of a great winning tradition that is about to begin here."

The club renegotiated with young 19-year-old keeper Edu Frias on a four year deal that will pay him $2,100/week. The club feels that he has a ton of potential and that locking him up at this price is huge for the club.

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LA LIGA MATCHDAY 1

vs.

RC CELTA VIGO 1:1 RCD ESPANYOL
Abanca-Balaidos (Capacity: 29,000)


David Abraham slides home the opening goal of the match for Celta.

SCORING:
41' - (CEL) - D. Abraham
90'+ - (ESP) - O. Melendo

DISCIPLINE:
None

8/18/18
Vigo, Galicia (AP) - The La Liga debut for new RCD Espanyol manager Raul Tamudo and young midfielder Carles Alena couldn't have gone much better as Espanyol tallied late to draw at Celta Vigo 1-1 at Abanca-Balaidos. Alena setup the match tying goal in extra time as he slid a perfect through ball to Oscar Meledo, who did not fluff his lines, and beat Celta Vigo keeper Sergio as RCD Espanyol salvaged a draw in their season opener.

Celta Vigo grabbed the lead in the 41st minute off of a corner. Defender David Abraham, making his Celta debut, headed one off of the bar, then put back the rebound to put Celta up 1-0. Sergi Darder would have a glorious chance to tie moments later, but his left footed shot sailed just wide of the far post.

Iago Aspas missed on a chance to put Celta up by two early in the second half, as he got behind the Espanyol defense, but his shot was just tipped over the bar by Diego Lopez.

Carles Alena, making his Espanyol debut, came on as a substitue in the 55th minute, replacing Estaban Grenaro. Alena made an immediate impact and showed glimpses of what the future may hold in the Espanyol midfield. His vision and passes setup a few excellent chances. Alena himself had a great chance to tie in the 85th minute, taking a pass from Leo Baptistao, but hitting it over the bar.

RCD Espanyol ended up outshooting Celta 11-8 (6-2 in the second half), and held possession for 56% of the match. All in all, not a bad debut for Tamudo and RCD.

Up next, Espanyol returns home to face Valencia.

Matchday 1 Results:
Girona 3:2 Valladolid
Real Betis 2:0 Levante
Vilareal 1:1 Real Sociedad
Barcelona 3:1 Alaves
Eibar 1:0 Huesca
Rayo Vallecano 1:2 Sevilla
Real Madrid 3:0 Getafe
Valencia 1:2 Atletico Madrid
Athletic Bilbao 3:2 Leganes