FC CINCINNATI

Get to know La Liga's RCD Espanyol, FC Cincinnati's international friendly opponent

Charlie Hatch
chatch@enquirer.com
Real Madrid's Benzema, left, duels for the ball with Espanyol's Esteban Granero during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Real Madrid at RCDE stadium in Cornella Llobregat, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018.

Futbol Club Cincinnati's third international friendly arrives Saturday night when the club hosts La Liga side RCD Espanyol at Nippert Stadium. 

Here's a quick look at Los Periquitos (the Budgerigars, which is a parakeet):

Founded: 1900

Awards: Copa del Rey titles: 4

  • This tournament is similar to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, but in Spain
  • Championhips in 1929, 1940, 2000, 2006

Europa League finalists: 2

  • Espanyol was a runner up in 1987-88 and 2006-07

Looking back at last season

  • Los Periquitos finished 11th in La Liga and beat Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid during the season.

Coach: Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia 

  • Also known as "Rubi," he joined the club in June after leading Huesca to promotion into La Liga in 2017-18.
  • He played for Espanyol B and coached that team as well. Speaking to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Rubi said: "This is the best thing that can happen for me."

Players of note

  • Esteban Granero is a midfielder who developed in Real Madrid's academy and later played for the current three-time UEFA Champions League winners.
  • Leo Baptitão is a forward who scored eight La Liga goals last season and previously played for Atletico Madrid.
  • Oscar Duarte is a Costa Rican who was on the Los Ticos FIFA World Cup squad in 2014 and 2018. 

2018 preseason details

  • Espanyol plays Richmond Kickers on Wednesday night in its first of two American friendlies. FC Cincinnati is the second. The Spanish side plays its first league match Aug. 19 vs. Celta Vigo, then plays Valencia the next week in its home opener. FC Cincinnati hosted Valencia, who finished fourth, last season. 

FC Cincinnati friendly notes

  • This is the second La Liga club to play in Cincinnati. As mentioned above, Valencia did the same in 2017.
  • In 2016, English Premier League club Crystal Palace came to Nippert Stadium in a match that drew 36,051. At the time, it was the largest attendance to watch a soccer game in Ohio.