Espanyol faced an unfortunate defeat against Barcelona on Saturday, with the visitors securing a 2-0 victory at the RCDE Stadium. The crucial moment came late in the match, and frustration among home fans surged following Robert Lewandowski’s stoppage-time goal.
During the celebration of Lewandowski’s goal, objects were hurled towards Barcelona’s players. This incident was noted in the referee Víctor Garcia Verdura’s report, which was detailed by MD.
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The report stated, “In the 90th minute, several half-full and closed bottles were thrown from the stands in the right corner, where the home team’s supporters were located, identifiable by their shirts and scarves. Fortunately, these bottles did not strike any player or cause damage, leading to an announcement over the loudspeaker urging such behavior to stop.”
Image via Judit Cartiel/Getty Images
Espanyol has previously experienced similar issues at the RCDE Stadium, including an incident where referee Alejandro Quintero González was struck by a cup following a loss to Villarreal in September 2024, which resulted in a suspended stadium ban.
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Espanyol Expected to Avoid Stadium Ban
Despite this latest incident, it seems Espanyol may not face a significant penalty such as a stadium ban. The referee’s report indicates that no harm was done, as none of the bottles struck any players. Consequently, a fine is more likely to be imposed.
However, Espanyol will be wary of the rising number of incidents involving their supporters over recent years, and will be eager to put an end to this trend promptly.