Espanyol

RCD Espanyol de Barcelona, founded in 1900, is a professional football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The club plays its home matches at the RCDE Stadium, a 40,000-seat venue that became the first stadium in Spain built entirely with private funding when it opened in 2009. Espanyol has won the Copa del Rey four times, with triumphs in 1929, 1940, 2000, and 2006, and reached the UEFA Europa League final in 2007, losing to Sevilla on penalties. The club was a founding member of La Liga in 1929 and has spent over 80 seasons in the top flight. Espanyol's distinctive blue and white striped kit has remained largely unchanged throughout the club's history. The club maintains a significant city rivalry with FC Barcelona in the Barcelona derby. Espanyol's youth academy, known for its strong development program, has produced notable players including Raul Tamudo, the club's all-time leading scorer with 140 goals, and Sergio Garcia. The club was acquired by Chinese businessman Chen Yansheng in 2016, making it one of several La Liga clubs with international ownership.