Car Collision Injures Thirteen Before Barcelona-Espanyol Match

Thirteen individuals were injured, with four requiring hospitalization, during a car crash involving fans outside the Espanyol-Barcelona derby match as tensions built ahead of the game.

Thirteen people were injured in a car crash incident that occurred outside the Estadi RCDE in Barcelona on Thursday, just before the highly anticipated La Liga derby match between city rivals Espanyol and Barcelona. The incident, which led to delays in the match's kickoff, saw Barcelona eventually clinch the La Liga title with a 2-0 victory.

Local police reported that four of the injured were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, though none sustained serious injuries. Initially, the referee was informed of the situation by law enforcement, resulting in a brief pause of the match as authorities assessed the scene.

Witnesses shared video footage on social media showing the car, surrounded by enthusiastic fans, suddenly accelerating into the crowd after stopping between trash bins outside the stadium. The chaotic moment shortly preceded the arrival of Espanyol's team coach, which had attracted many supporters to the area.

Responders dispatched ten ambulances to the scene to assist those impacted by the collision, and officials confirmed that the most serious injury reported was a broken leg. Salvador Illa, the President of the Government of Catalonia and an eyewitness at the match, expressed concern but reassured viewers that it was an unintentional accident resulting in relatively minor injuries.

The driver of the vehicle has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and causing injuries. Police reiterated in a social media statement that the incident posed no further threat to fans inside the stadium, and local authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.