RCDE Stadium is the home of RCD Espanyol, a modern 40,500-capacity ground in Cornella de Llobregat on the edge of Barcelona and one of the most comfortable places to watch La Liga football. Demand for RCDE Stadium tickets is driven by the loyal Espanyol support, by the Barcelona derby against the city's larger club and by the visits of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and the other big Spanish sides. The stadium, opened in 2009 to replace the old Sarria ground, sits in the metropolitan area southwest of central Barcelona, close to the airport and the Llobregat river. 1BoxOffice is a verified secondary marketplace established in 2006, with seat-level detail at checkout and a 150% money-back guarantee if a ticket fails to grant entry on matchday.
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This guide is written for the supporter making the trip, not the browser. It covers the tram and the train out from central Barcelona, how the four stands are arranged around the home end, where away fans sit, the bag rules and the entry process, the food and drink of Catalonia, and the story of one of the founding clubs of Spanish football. By the end you should know how an Espanyol matchday runs.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | RCDE Stadium |
| Location | Cornella de Llobregat, Barcelona metropolitan area, Spain |
| Capacity | 40,500 |
| Opened | 2009, replacing the old Sarria stadium |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Home Club | RCD Espanyol |
| Home End | Behind one goal, the vocal Espanyol support |
| Record Attendance | 40,240, Espanyol against Real Madrid in 2011 |
| Notable | Opened with a 3-0 win over Liverpool |
| Nearest Tram | Cornella Riera on the Trambaix network |
RCDE Stadium sits in Cornella de Llobregat, in the metropolitan area to the southwest of central Barcelona, around eight to ten kilometres from the middle of the city and close to El Prat airport. The great advantage of the ground is the tram and train network of greater Barcelona, which serves Cornella well, so most supporters arrive by tram or train from the centre. The trip out takes around twenty to thirty minutes from central Barcelona, and the ground is a short walk from the transport stops.
The Trambaix tram is one of the easiest ways in, with lines running out to Cornella and the stop at Cornella Riera a short walk from the ground. The tram runs from the western side of Barcelona through the metropolitan towns to Cornella, a pleasant and simple ride, and it is well used by supporters on matchday. Follow the crowd and the signs from the tram stop to the stadium, a walk of a few minutes.
The Renfe and FGC commuter trains serve Cornella from the centre of Barcelona, with the Cornella station a walk from the ground, giving a fast option from Barcelona Sants and the central stations. Metro line 5 also reaches Cornella Centre, from where it is a walk or a short tram ride to the stadium. The combination of tram, train and metro means the ground is well connected from across greater Barcelona, and supporters can pick whichever line best suits where they are staying.
El Prat airport lies close to the ground, only a few kilometres away in the same metropolitan area, so visitors flying in are near the stadium on arrival, though most head into the centre of Barcelona to stay and travel back out for the match. From central Barcelona the ground is too far to walk comfortably, so the tram or the train is the sensible choice, but from the Cornella stops the final stretch to the turnstiles is a short and easy walk. The compact metropolitan transport network makes the whole trip straightforward.
The stadium is reachable by road on the edge of Barcelona, near the ring roads and the airport, with some parking in the Cornella area, though driving into the metropolitan area on matchday can be busy and parking near the ground is limited. The advice is to use the tram or the train from the centre rather than drive, given the good public transport and the congestion around a big match. Those staying outside the city can drive in and park where they can, but many find the tram far easier.
Parking at RCDE Stadium is available in the Cornella area around the ground and at nearby retail and business parks, more than at many city-centre stadiums, but it fills up before a bigger match and the roads get busy, so arriving early helps. Given how well the tram and the train serve Cornella from central Barcelona, many supporters find public transport the easier option, avoiding the congestion around the ground on matchday. Drivers coming from outside the city should aim to arrive in good time for a space, or park a little further out and complete the journey by tram, particularly for the Barcelona derby or the visit of Real Madrid.
RCDE Stadium is a modern, football-specific ground with four stands close to the pitch and no running track, giving a good atmosphere and clear views from almost every seat. The main stand along one side holds the premium and hospitality seating, the media positions and the tunnel, with the stand opposite running the length of the other touchline, and the two ends behind the goals. The home end behind one goal is where the most vocal Espanyol support gathers, in the blue and white of the club, and is the loudest part of the ground on a matchday.
The home end behind one goal is where the vocal Espanyol support gathers, the source of the singing, the flags and the atmosphere in the blue and white of the club. This is the section to target for the fullest matchday experience, in the tradition of the Spanish curva, close to the pitch in a steep modern stand. While the ground is comfortable and family-friendly across most areas, the home end is where the noise comes from, the beating heart of an Espanyol matchday.
The main stand along one touchline holds the premium and hospitality seating, the media positions and the tunnel, with the higher-priced central seats offering the best balanced view of the play. The stand opposite runs the length of the other touchline with fine views in a slightly calmer setting. Both give clear sightlines across the pitch, and the central rows of the main stand are the pick for a tactical overview, while the ends and the corners come at a lower price with a more angled view.
Away supporters are housed in a corner or one end of the ground, with good sightlines but separated from the home support, and an allocation that varies by fixture, larger for the biggest visiting clubs. The ground has strong accessible provision as a modern stadium, with wheelchair-user positions, companion seating and step-free access built into the design, though supporters with access requirements should contact the club before the match to confirm the arrangements. The table below matches a section to what you want from the day.
| Priority | Recommended Sections |
|---|---|
| Atmosphere | The home end behind the goal |
| Tactical overview | Main stand, central rows |
| Close to pitch | Front rows of the lower tier |
| Calmer view | The stand opposite the main stand |
| Budget-friendly | The corners and the far end |
| Away fans | Corner or end section by fixture |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair-user bays with companion spaces (request at purchase) |
Barcelona has a warm Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters, so most of the La Liga season is played in pleasant conditions, though the height of summer can be very hot and autumn can bring heavy rain to the coast. The roof covers most of the seated areas of the ground, keeping much of the crowd shaded and dry, while the front rows and the open corners are more exposed to the sun and the occasional downpour. For an early or late-season fixture take sun protection, and for a winter or autumn match a light waterproof layer against the Mediterranean rain.
Like other La Liga grounds, RCDE Stadium runs a bag policy with searches on entry, so the sensible approach is to travel light. Large bags and rucksacks are best left at your accommodation, since oversized bags may be refused and there is no guarantee of a bag store, with only small bags admitted subject to search. Standard prohibited items apply, including bottles, cans, outside alcohol, pyrotechnics and flares, and any object judged dangerous. Bring photo identification, as it may be checked for certain fixtures. Check the club's matchday guidance for the current bag size limit before you travel, and arrive early to clear the search, especially for the derby.
Barcelona is one of the great food and drink cities of Europe, famous for its Catalan cuisine, its tapas, its cava and its vibrant bar culture, so the matchday build-up is a real pleasure. The ground is out in Cornella, so while there are local spots and the stadium's own catering, the fuller choice of bars and restaurants is across central Barcelona, a tram or train ride away.
Catalan cuisine is rich and varied, from pa amb tomaquet, bread rubbed with tomato, to seafood, grilled meats, botifarra sausage and the tapas found across the city, matched with local wines and the sparkling cava of the nearby Penedes region. Central Barcelona is full of tapas bars, restaurants and markets such as La Boqueria, along with the cafes and bars of the Gothic Quarter and the Eixample. A meal of tapas and a glass of cava or Catalan wine before the tram out to Cornella is one of the pleasures of a football trip to Barcelona.
Central Barcelona, from the Gothic Quarter to the Eixample and the waterfront, is the place to gather before a match, with its bars, restaurants and tapas spots, while the Cornella area around the ground is more suburban with local bars, cafes and the catering of the nearby retail parks. Because the stadium is out of the centre, most supporters build the day around central Barcelona and take the tram or train out. A round of tapas in the city beforehand is a fine way to start an Espanyol matchday.
Inside the stadium the concourses serve Spanish matchday food and drink at the usual standard, from snacks to the usual refreshments. The real draw, though, is the food and drink of Barcelona across the wider city, so for a fuller experience eat and drink in the centre beforehand, among the tapas bars and restaurants, then take the tram or train out to Cornella for the match.
Espanyol use modern ticketing, so for most fixtures the ticket is scanned at the turnstile, whether issued digitally or as a printed ticket depending on the match, and identification may be checked against the ticket for certain fixtures. Have the ticket and your identification ready before you reach the entrance. Gates open ahead of kick-off to let the crowd filter in, and with a bag search the entrances get busy in the last half hour, particularly for the Barcelona derby or the visit of Real Madrid. Aim to be at the ground in good time rather than joining the final rush, and note that La Liga kick-off times can be late in the evening.
Leaving a ground served by the tram and the train is straightforward, with the network carrying the crowd back into central Barcelona.
The Trambaix tram from Cornella Riera and the Renfe and FGC trains from Cornella carry the crowd back into central Barcelona after the match, running frequently to clear the ground. The stops are busy immediately after a bigger fixture, so either move quickly with the first wave or give the crush a few minutes to clear before setting off. The good public transport means you are back in the centre of the city in around twenty to thirty minutes for the evening.
Drivers who parked around Cornella face the usual post-match congestion on the roads, so patience helps, and metro line 5 from Cornella Centre is an alternative for part of the journey back into the city. The stadium's position near the ring roads means the traffic clears reasonably once you are away from the immediate car parks, but the first fifteen minutes after a big match are slow, so a relaxed departure is often quicker in the end.
The natural way to end an Espanyol matchday is to take the tram or train back into central Barcelona for the evening, for tapas and a glass of cava in one of the great food cities of Europe. The simplest way to beat any post-match crowd is to let the first wave clear before heading off, then enjoy the city. An evening in the bars and restaurants of Barcelona after the match is a fine end to a football trip to Catalonia.
RCDE Stadium opened in 2009, built in Cornella de Llobregat to give Espanyol a modern home of their own after years sharing the Olympic Stadium on Montjuic, and after the sale of their historic old ground at Sarria in the late 1990s. The new stadium was inaugurated with a friendly against Liverpool, which Espanyol won 3-0, and it gave the club a comfortable, football-specific ground with four stands close to the pitch. It has carried several sponsored names over the years but is known again as the RCDE Stadium, and it remains owned and operated by the club.
RCD Espanyol are one of the founding clubs of Spanish football, formed in 1900, and one of the two great clubs of the city of Barcelona alongside their larger neighbours, with a proud identity and a loyal support. Known as the Pericos, the club has spent most of its history in the top flight and has enjoyed European runs, reaching the final of the UEFA Cup in 1988 and again in 2007, losing both on penalties after brave campaigns. The move to Cornella began a new chapter for a club with deep roots in the sporting life of the city.
The ground has staged many big occasions since 2009, above all the Barcelona derby, the Derbi barceloni against the city's larger club, which brings the fiercest atmosphere of the season, along with the visits of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and the other giants of La Liga. Its record attendance of 40,240 came against Real Madrid in 2011. From the opening win over Liverpool to the derbies and the European nights, the RCDE Stadium has become a settled and much-loved home for the Espanyol support.
The stadium's history, verified by contemporary records, is defined by the derbies and the big La Liga occasions it has staged since opening in 2009. Its fiercest fixture is the Barcelona derby against the city's larger club, the Derbi barceloni, which brings the most intense atmosphere of the season, while the visits of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid fill the ground. The opening 3-0 win over Liverpool announced the new stadium, and the record crowd against Real Madrid in 2011 marked one of its biggest nights, giving the ground a place in the recent story of the Espanyol support.
RCDE Stadium is a modern, well-appointed ground that suits the club, so its future lies in continuing as the home of RCD Espanyol, with the usual periodic upgrades to hospitality, technology and supporter facilities rather than any major rebuild. As one of the newer grounds in La Liga, built to a high standard with good sightlines and comfort, it needs no significant redevelopment, and the priority is filling it for the derbies and the big fixtures and maintaining the matchday experience. For now the ground remains the settled home of Espanyol in Cornella, a comfortable and modern stadium on the edge of Barcelona.
RCDE Stadium has strong accessible provision as a modern ground, with wheelchair-user positions, companion seating and step-free access built into the design, along with facilities for supporters with a range of access needs. Supporters requiring accessible seating should contact the club well before the match to confirm the available spaces, arrange any companion ticket and check the best route into the ground. The tram and train stops at Cornella give reasonable access to the stadium, and the modern design means the concourses and seating areas are easier to move around than at many older grounds, though it is worth confirming the arrangements in advance.
The fixtures that move RCDE Stadium tickets fastest are the Barcelona derby and the visits of the biggest Spanish clubs. The derby against the city's larger club, the Derbi barceloni, is the standout occasion, and you can find the visitors on the Barcelona tickets page. The visits of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are the other biggest draws, with strong demand too for the meetings with Real Betis and Getafe among the rest of the La Liga programme. The full home schedule sits on the RCD Espanyol tickets and La Liga tickets listings. Fixtures against mid-table sides are the most accessible and sometimes available closer to kick-off. Secondary-market prices move with demand, so treat any figure as indicative rather than fixed and buy early for the derby and the marquee matches.
1BoxOffice is a verified secondary marketplace that has operated since 2006, showing seat-level detail before you pay and backing every order with a 150% money-back guarantee if a ticket fails to grant entry on matchday. The eight steps below cover the process from finding a fixture to tracking your order.
Step1
Find the fixture
Go to the RCDE Stadium listing on 1BoxOffice and select the match you want. Each fixture shows the available stands, rows and current pricing before you commit to a seat.
Step2
Check the seat detail
Use the stand and price filters to compare sections. Seat location and row are shown against the venue layout, so you can weigh a place near the home end against a central main-stand seat before deciding.
Step3
Confirm the supporter section
Make sure the block matches who you are travelling with. Home and visiting-supporter areas are listed separately, and away fans are routed to a corner or end section of the ground.
Step4
Review before checkout
Check the delivery method and the kick-off time against your travel plans, and note that identification may be checked against the ticket for certain fixtures. La Liga kick-off times can be late in the evening and shift with broadcast scheduling, so verify the date and time before you book travel or a hotel.
Step5
Create your account
First-time buyers should create an account to complete checkout and receive the ticket. Returning customers simply log in. An account keeps your order and delivery details in one place.
Step6
Complete payment
All major credit and debit cards are accepted. The 150% money-back guarantee applies automatically to every order if the ticket fails to grant entry on matchday.
Step7
Receive your ticket
Tickets for Espanyol fixtures are typically issued digitally or as a printed ticket depending on the match. Keep the ticket and your identification ready to scan and check, and follow the delivery instructions supplied with your order.
Step8
Track your order
Follow delivery status and manage your booking through track order. Tickets arrive ahead of the match so you can travel with everything ready.
Barcelona is one of the finest football-trip cities in the world, pairing a match with the architecture of Gaudi, the beaches, the Gothic Quarter and the food and nightlife of a great Mediterranean capital. Fly into El Prat airport, close to the ground in the same metropolitan area, then head into central Barcelona to stay and travel back out to Cornella for the match by tram or train. Base yourself centrally, and remember that identification may be checked for certain fixtures, that the stadium is out in Cornella rather than the city centre, and that the food, wine and culture of Barcelona are a reason to travel in themselves. Barcelona pairs a match with one of the most rewarding city breaks anywhere.
With so much to see and do, many supporters build a longer trip around the match. If you are lining up other fixtures, the football tickets hub, the wider football tournaments calendar and the venues tickets directory show what else is on. In and around Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia and the other works of Gaudi, the Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas, the beaches and the waterfront, and the views from Montjuic and Tibidabo all reward a matchday trip to Catalonia.
RCDE Stadium holds 40,500, a mid-size ground by La Liga standards. It is a modern, football-specific stadium with four stands close to the pitch and no running track, which gives good views from almost every seat and a solid atmosphere, especially at the home end. The record attendance of 40,240 came against Real Madrid in 2011.
The ground is the home of RCD Espanyol, one of the founding clubs of Spanish football and one of the two great clubs of Barcelona. Known as the Pericos, Espanyol moved to the stadium in Cornella in 2009, and it has been their home ever since, replacing their old Sarria ground and years spent sharing the Olympic Stadium.
The ground is in Cornella de Llobregat, southwest of central Barcelona. Take the Trambaix tram to Cornella Riera, a short walk from the stadium, or the Renfe and FGC trains to Cornella, with metro line 5 also reaching Cornella Centre. The trip from the centre takes around twenty to thirty minutes. Driving is possible but public transport is easier on matchday.
Yes, there is parking in the Cornella area around the ground and at nearby retail and business parks, more than at many city-centre stadiums. It fills up before a bigger match and the roads get busy, so arrive early. Given how well the tram and train serve Cornella from central Barcelona, many supporters find public transport the easier option.
Yes, Espanyol tickets are sold to the general public, though the Barcelona derby and the visits of Real Madrid and the other giants sell out fast. Identification may be checked against the ticket for certain fixtures. A verified secondary marketplace is a realistic route for visitors, with seat detail shown before you pay.
Travel light, as large bags and rucksacks may be refused and there is no guarantee of a bag store, with only small bags admitted subject to search. Expect a search at the turnstile. Bottles, cans, outside alcohol, pyrotechnics and flares are prohibited. Bring photo identification, as it may be checked for certain fixtures. Check the club's matchday guidance for the current bag size limit.
The home end behind one goal, where the vocal Espanyol support gathers in the blue and white of the club, has the fullest atmosphere, so target it for the singing and the colour. The ground is comfortable and family-friendly across most areas, but the home end is where the noise comes from. The main stand and the side opposite are calmer and better for a tactical view.
Visiting supporters are housed in a corner or one end of the ground, with good sightlines but separated from the home support, and the allocation is larger for the biggest visiting clubs. The exact section and allocation vary by fixture, so away fans should always check the details for their specific game and follow the guidance issued with the ticket.
Yes. As a modern ground it has wheelchair-user positions, companion seating and step-free access built into the design. Contact the club before the match to confirm the available spaces and arrange the seating and any companion ticket in advance. The tram and train stops at Cornella give reasonable access, and the modern concourses are easy to move around.
Gates open ahead of kick-off to let the crowd in, typically well over an hour before a La Liga match. With a bag search, the entrances get busy in the last half hour, so aim to arrive in good time, especially for the derby. Note that La Liga kick-off times can be late in the evening. The precise opening time is confirmed with your ticket.
The concourses serve Spanish matchday food and drink. The real draw is Barcelona itself, one of Europe's great food cities, famous for its Catalan cuisine, tapas and cava, with the markets, tapas bars and restaurants of the centre. Eat and drink in the city before taking the tram or train out to Cornella for the match.
The Barcelona derby, the Derbi barceloni, is the meeting of Espanyol and the city's larger club, the two great clubs of Barcelona. It is the fixture that means the most to the Espanyol support, charged with local rivalry and history, and it brings the fiercest atmosphere of the season to the ground, filling the RCDE Stadium.
The stadium opened in 2009, built in Cornella de Llobregat to give Espanyol a modern home of their own after selling their old Sarria ground and years sharing the Olympic Stadium on Montjuic. It was inaugurated with a friendly against Liverpool, which Espanyol won 3-0, and gave the club a comfortable, football-specific ground.
Face-value La Liga prices at Espanyol are affordable by the standards of the biggest clubs, with the ends the cheapest areas. Resale prices depend on the opponent, with the Barcelona derby and the visits of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid the most expensive. Secondary-market prices move with demand, so treat any figure as indicative rather than a promise.
Central Barcelona is the best base, from the Gothic Quarter to the Eixample and the waterfront, with plenty of accommodation and an easy tram or train out to Cornella. Staying central puts you among the bars, restaurants and sights of a great Mediterranean city, with the transport links to reach the ground in around twenty to thirty minutes.
Espanyol issue tickets digitally or as a printed ticket depending on the fixture, scanned at the turnstile, and identification may be checked against the ticket for certain matches. Have the ticket and your identification ready before you arrive. Follow the delivery and entry instructions supplied with your order, as the requirements can vary by fixture.
The name comes from the club's initials, Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol, and the ground has carried several sponsored names over the years before returning to the RCDE Stadium. It opened in 2009 as the club's own modern home in Cornella, and it is owned and operated by Espanyol rather than shared with another club or the city.
The ground is out in Cornella, so the attractions are in central Barcelona, a tram or train ride away. The Sagrada Familia and the works of Gaudi, the Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas, the beaches and the waterfront, and the views from Montjuic all reward a matchday trip to Barcelona, one of the finest cities in Europe.
Yes. Espanyol are one of the founding clubs of Spanish football and have enjoyed European runs over the years, reaching the final of the UEFA Cup in 1988 and again in 2007, losing both on penalties after brave campaigns. When the club qualifies, European nights return to the ground, adding to the calendar alongside the La Liga fixtures.
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Sources: RCD Espanyol (rcdespanyol.com), club matchday guidance, Barcelona metropolitan transport information (TMB and Trambaix), and stadium reference records such as Wikipedia and football ground guides.