Catalan Football Rivalries: Barça vs Girona and Beyond

Eapen Alexander

Content Writer

Football has long been intertwined with Catalan identity and pride. FC Barcelona was founded in 1899 and quickly grew into a powerhouse, amassing dozens of La Liga titles and European trophies over its history. The club is a symbol of Catalan culture and resistance, especially during eras of central Spanish oppression. By contrast, Girona FC’s journey was far more humble. Established on July 23, 1930, Girona spent the bulk of its existence in the lower rungs of Spanish football. In fact, from 1959 until 2008, the team never even reached the second division, let alone the top flight. 

For decades, Girona’s local fanbase was small, and many football enthusiasts in the city supported Barcelona, Real Madrid or Espanyol instead, since Girona was nowhere near the elite level. This all began to change in the 21st century: Girona earned promotion to La Liga for the first time in 2017, ending an 87-year wait to join Spain’s top tier. That historic promotion,

backed by new investors, set the stage for a remarkable rise that would soon pit Girona against the mighty Barcelona as true rivals.

1. Barcelona vs Espanyol, The Original Catalan Derby

Before Girona’s emergence, Catalonia’s headline football rivalry was Barcelona vs RCD Espanyol, a fixture known as the Derbi Barceloní. First contested in 1929, this city derby with deeper cultural and political divides.

During the early 20th century, under General Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship, FC Barcelona embodied oppressed Catalan nationalist sentiment, whereas Espanyol was seen as aligned with the central Spanish authority. In 1918, for example, Barcelona publicly supported Catalonia’s push for autonomy, earning the club its identity as a standard-bearer for Catalonia, while Espanyol pointedly distanced itself from that campaign. Such ideological differences earned Espanyol a reputation among some fans as a non-Catalan club or even an outgrowth of Real Madrid in Barcelona.

Despite the political undercurrents, the on-pitch rivalry was historically one-sided. Barcelona’s superior resources and talent saw them dominate, with Espanyol rarely finishing above Barça in the league (only three times in the past 70 years). For Espanyol supporters, defeating Barcelona was often the pinnacle of their season, a triumph of pride, while many Barça fans viewed Espanyol as a pesky neighbour rather than an equal competitor. Memorable moments did flare up, such as Espanyol’s infamous “Tamudazo” 2–2 draw in 2007 that cost Barcelona the league title on the final day, or Espanyol’s shock win at Camp Nou in 2009 during Barça’s treble season. These episodes amplified the derby’s intensity. Overall, though, the Barcelona-Espanyol rivalry was defined by Barcelona’s dominance and the contrasting identities: Catalan patriotism versus perceived establishment loyalty. This dynamic set the stage in Catalonia, a landscape where Barcelona towered above all local rivals for decades. It is against this backdrop that Girona’s rise and its new rivalry with Barcelona become so extraordinary.

2. The Rise of Girona FC: From Underdogs to Contenders

Girona’s ascent to challenging Barcelona is a football fairy tale. As recently as the late 1990s, Girona were languishing in the Spanish Tercera (fourth tier) and even the regional fifth tier, drawing barely a few hundred supporters to home games. The turning point came in the 2000s: after back-to-back promotions in 2007/08, the club returned to the second division for the first time in almost 50 years. Girona nearly earned promotion in 2015 and 2016, falling just short in the playoffs, but finally clinched a direct promotion by finishing second in 2016/17.

For the first time in history, the Blanquivermells (white-and-reds) were a La Liga club. This coincided with new, ambitious ownership. City Football Group (CFG), the Abu Dhabi-backed owners of Manchester City and Pere Guardiola (brother of Pep Guardiola) jointly purchased close to 88% of Girona in August 2017. With that investment, Girona gained financial stability, modern infrastructure, and a pipeline to talented players. CFG’s influence brought resources and know-how, including strategic loans of young prospects.

Under this new stewardship, Girona managed to hold their own in their first La Liga stint (2017/2019), even achieving a 10th-place finish in their debut top-flight season. Relegation in 2019 was a setback, but the club bounced back in 2022 by winning the promotion play-offs. By the 2022/23 season, Girona was establishing itself as a solid first-division side. Crucially, they hired coach Míchel Sánchez (known simply as Míchel) in 2021. Míchel, a Spaniard with a bold attacking philosophy, proved to be the perfect fit for Girona’s project.

3. A New Derby is Born

For decades, meetings between FC Barcelona and Girona FC were nonexistent or confined to occasional friendlies. Once Girona joined La Liga in 2017, the matchup quickly evolved from a feel-good local story into a genuine rivalry. Early encounters were largely dominated by Barcelona’s star power, for instance, in February 2018, Barça thrashed Girona 6-1 at Camp Nou, with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez running rampant. However, Girona soon showed they could compete: in September 2018, they held Barcelona to a 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou, led by a Cristhian Stuani brace.

Girona players celebrate after their historic 4-2 victory over Barcelona at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona, December 2023. In a stunning Week 16 encounter on December 10, 2023, Girona achieved its first-ever win over Barça, and did so in style, a 4-2 triumph on Barcelona’s home turf. High-flying Girona entered the match as La Liga’s surprise leaders, and by beating the defending champions, they reclaimed the top spot in the table. Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk opened the scoring for Girona, and although Robert Lewandowski equalised for Barcelona, the visitors’ confidence never wavered.

If any thought Girona’s win was a one-off fluke, the team dispelled that notion later in the season. When the two sides met again in May 2024 at Montilivi, Girona once more defeated Barcelona 4-2 in front of a delirious home crowd. That victory not only completed an astonishing league double over Barça, but it also secured Girona’s qualification for the UEFA Champions League for the first time. In fact, by coming from behind to beat Barcelona in that match, Girona mathematically knocked Barcelona out of the title race and handed Real Madrid the 2023–24 La Liga crown. It was a twist of fate reminiscent of Espanyol’s spoiler role in 2007, except now Girona played the giant-killers. Real Madrid clinched their record 36th title thanks to Girona’s win, underlining how a small Catalan club had influenced the very top of the table.

Barcelona, a club used to being the pride of Catalonia, suddenly found itself finishing below a fellow Catalan side in a league match for the first time in living memory. The rivalry between Barcelona and Girona had truly arrived: no longer was Girona merely a friendly neighbour happy to be on the same pitch; they were a side capable of outclassing Barça across 90 minutes.

Catalan media dubbed these matches a “derby for the ages,” and fans on both sides took note. Many Girona players had grown up admiring FC Barcelona, Girona’s captain Aleix García (26 years old in 2023), even admitted he’d been a lifelong Barça fan. Likewise, defender Eric García, on loan at Girona from Barcelona, came through Barça’s famed La Masia academy.

4. Cultural and Regional Significance

The Barcelona-Girona matches carry deep cultural significance within Catalonia. Unlike Barcelona’s rivalry with Espanyol, which often felt like Catalonia vs Spain in a microcosm, Barça vs Girona is a clash of Catalans, a celebration of regional pride on both sides. Girona’s nickname is Els Gironins, and their red-and-white colours represent their province, while Barcelona’s Blaugrana represents the capital and the wider Catalan nation.

When these teams meet, the game is often dubbed a derbi català (Catalan derby), and it embodies Catalonia’s passion for football. Fans from both clubs wave the Catalan flag (the senyera) proudly in the stands, and pro-Catalan chants or songs (like Els Segadors, the Catalan anthem) can sometimes be heard echoing around the stadium during these derbies.

For Girona’s supporters, facing FC Barcelona is an occasion laden with pride. Girona is a much smaller city (population around 100,000) compared to the metropolis of Barcelona, and historically, its football team was never on the radar of international fans. Now, each fixture against Barça is an opportunity to showcase Girona’s identity and talent to the world. The matches have a friendly but fierce atmosphere.

Many Girona fans still respect or even support Barcelona in other contexts (given Barcelona’s historic role as the flagship Catalan club), but for 90 minutes during the derby, Girona’s faithful relish the chance to challenge the giants. The local Catalan media often frame these games as David vs Goliath battles, the proud provincial club versus the global superstar team an hour down the road. When Girona earned that first win over Barcelona, it was celebrated not in a mean-spirited triumph over an enemy, but as a coming-of-age moment for Catalan football outside Barcelona’s shadow.

5. Catalonia’s Struggle and Football

The political backdrop in Catalonia inevitably seeps into its football rivalries. Catalonia’s push for independence from Spain, especially the referendum turmoil of 2017 and subsequent tensions, has heightened the symbolism of Catalan clubs. FC Barcelona, with its roots in 1899, has historically been associated with Catalan nationalism and resistance. During the Franco dictatorship (1939-1975), Barça was famously described as “the unarmed army of Catalonia,” providing an outlet for Catalan identity when the language and flag were banned in public life.

Girona FC, as a smaller local club, shares the Catalan identity but without the global spotlight. The city of Girona and its surrounding province are known for strong pro-independence sentiment. Notably, Carles Puigdemont, a prominent Catalan pro-independence leader, served as mayor of Girona before becoming President of Catalonia. This ethos is reflected among Girona’s supporters. When Girona earned promotion to La Liga and first hosted Barcelona in 2017, the match was seen as a celebration of Catalan achievement.

6. The Rivalry Today

As of 2025, the Barcelona-Girona rivalry has firmly taken root, evolving from a novelty into a staple of the Catalan sporting calendar. Barcelona remains a European heavyweight, but they have had to adjust to the reality that Girona are now a serious competitor domestically. Girona’s dream 2023/24 season, where they finished 3rd in La Liga and earned a Champions League berth, proved that their challenge was not a mere flash in the pan.

Crucially, Girona’s rise has also changed the hierarchy of Catalan football “beyond” just these two clubs. For decades, Barcelona and Espanyol were the only Catalan teams in La Liga. Now Girona’s success has added a third Catalan presence in the top division and in some seasons even a fourth, if a club like Tarragona or Lleida briefly joins.

As of October 2025, Barcelona are in a period of transition and renewal. The legendary Camp Nou is undergoing a massive renovation, forcing Barça to play home games at the Olympic Stadium (Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Montjuïc hill) since 2023. This unique situation meant that Girona’s famous 2023 win actually took place not at the true Camp Nou, but at Barcelona’s temporary home on Montjuïc, the same venue where they met again in 2025. Barcelona hoped to partially re-open Camp Nou for the 2025–26 season, but construction delays persisted.

Thus, the scheduled October 18, 2025, Barcelona vs Girona league match was confirmed to remain at Montjuïc, as Barça awaited the necessary safety permits to return home. Playing in the less familiar Olympic Stadium (with reduced capacity) has been an advantage of sorts, the atmosphere is different, and it perhaps gives visiting teams a slight psychological boost.

Although the clashes between FC Barcelona and Girona FC are not marketed like an El Clásico, it is still regarded as a high-intensity derby game with a lot of cultural importance. On a sporting level, this fixture never failed to produce a thriller. You can book for the upcoming clash on 18 October 2025 via the 1BoxOffice website.