Barcelona will face RCD Espanyol this coming December 31 (2:00 p.m. CET), 34 years after the last time they played a LaLiga match on the last day of the year, then it was against Atlético de Madrid, in the old Vicente Calderon. That game was played on December 31, 1988 and corresponded to the seventeenth day of the championship. Barça, coached by Johan Cruyff, won 3-1 with goals from Robert, Lineker and Bakero, who neutralized Baltazar's initial penalty.
As in 1991 the Christmas break was established in the Championship, from then on no more matches were held at the end of the year, something that was usual before.
In total, the Catalans have played twelve times on the last day of the year, eight official matches and four friendlies. The first time was in 1911, a friendly against the French Stade Etoile Bleu in the now-defunct Industria street field (5-1). In those four friendlies, Barcelona won two, drew one and lost another. Regarding the eight official matches, the Catalans won six and lost two.
The last official defeat that occurred on the last day of the year was in 1967, when they were defeated at the Sánchez Pizjuán against Sevilla (2-1), 55 years have passed since then.
