In a stunning Copa Catalunya semi-final match on March 19, 2025, FC Barcelona’s youth squad, known as Barça Atlètic, faced a crushing defeat against their city rivals, RCD Espanyol, losing 5-0 at the Ciudad Deportiva Dani Jarque. The match showcased a significant gap between the two teams, with Espanyol’s full squad of promising young players dominating the field from the outset.
From the very first minute, the match set an ominous tone for Barça. Víctor García Mingo opened the scoring just seconds into the match, netting a low, cross-shot that caught the young Barça goalkeeper Max Bonfill off guard. By the third minute, Mingo had done it again, capitalizing on a miscommunication between Bonfill and defender Landry Farré, extending the lead to 2-0. The first goals came as a shock to the Barça side, which had been criticized for fielding an inexperienced team comprised mostly of youth players.
Despite the early setback, Barça struggled to find their footing on the pitch. It was evident from the start that they were not able to respond effectively to the relentless pressure from Espanyol. Just 15 minutes into the game, the situation worsened dramatically when José Ángel added a third for Espanyol with a seemingly harmless shot that slipped through Bonfill’s hands, making it 3-0.
The first half continued to unravel for Barça as Mingo completed an impressive hat-trick by the 30th minute, scoring his third goal after yet another defensive blunder from Barça. By halftime, the scoreboard read a devastating 4-0, leaving little hope for a comeback.
In the second half, Barça made some tactical changes in an effort to reduce fatigue among their players. However, Espanyol maintained their momentum, and Alex Almansa scored the fifth goal just five minutes after the restart, sealing the win. This final goal capped off a remarkable performance for Espanyol and left the scoreboard embarrassingly tilted in their favor.
This match rankled supporters and analysts alike, who noted that Barcelona had decided to field a mix of second-string and youth team players, arguably not taking the competition seriously. Regrettably, their strategy backfired spectacularly. Ruben Arenas, a prominent sports analyst, remarked, “Barcelona had considered not even to show up to avoid overloading their youth players during a crucial part of their season. They were at risk of relegation from Primera RFEF, but now they face embarrassment as Espanyol swept them aside without mercy.”
Espanyol, in stark contrast, fielded a full lineup of players from their reserve squad, prepared to give their 100% against their rivals. Coach Manolo González's squad came out flying, showing excellent coordination and taking full advantage of Barcelona's inexperience. The disparity in intensity and readiness between the two teams became painfully evident throughout the 90 minutes.
Moreover, Pablo Ramón made his debut for Espanyol in this match, returning from a long injury layoff and providing fans with a glimpse of his promising future. Ramón featured prominently in the lineup but could not get on the scoresheet himself. However, his participation added a sense of excitement among the fans.
As the dust settles on this harsh defeat for Barça, the focus shifts to the future, especially regarding their strategy evolving as they continue their fight against relegation, striving to avoid the shame of dropping out of the professional leagues. Espanyol, meanwhile, celebrates a well-deserved victory, looking ahead to the final in hopes of adding another trophy to their impressive cabinet.
This semi-final serves as a reminder of the fierce rivalry that exists between these two clubs, underscoring that even when featuring youth and academy talents, the hunger for victory remains at the forefront. It may be a painful lesson for Barcelona’s youth team, but one they will carry forward as they seek redemption in their future encounters. The final score, as resounding as it was, reflects not just the outcome of a match but the ongoing evolution and challenges within two major Catalan footballing institutions.
