This morning, while sipping my coffee, I suddenly wanted to see who RCD Espanyol’s next opponent was. Sounds like a simple question, right?
Guess what? I searched high and low and couldn’t find a single clear answer.
I typed “Espanyol next match” into my phone, and all that popped up was:
- News about their last loss
- Gossip about some player’s injury
- Ads for ticket sales
But nowhere could I find what I wanted: the exact date, opponent, and whether it was home or away.
I thought, “Why is such basic info so hard to find?”
It’s like everyone knows it exists, yet it’s hidden as if playing hide-and-seek.
Checked the official site first, but info was incomplete
I figured the club’s own website should be the most reliable source. So I opened Espanyol’s official site, clicked “First Team,” then looked for ‘Fixtures’ or “Match Schedule.”
The page loaded, and sure enough, a few upcoming matches were listed.
Like the next games against Getafe, Valladolid…
But I immediately spotted the problem: only the last three matches were shown. Nothing beyond that.
I wanted to know when they’d play Athletic Bilbao, but that match wasn’t on the homepage calendar. Was it not scheduled yet? Or hidden?
Plus, the page layout was messy—times, opponents, home/away games all jumbled together, making it super hard to read.
I only planned to spend two minutes checking, but got stuck here.
Switched to data sites and finally found the full schedule
No choice—I decided to look elsewhere.
I knew specialized soccer data sites like UEFA’s official website, Transfermarkt, or domestic apps like “Dongqiudi” offer more comprehensive information.
I opened one of them and searched “Espanyol schedule.” This time, the page was much clearer:
- All matches neatly arranged chronologically
- Opponent names clearly listed
- Clearly labeled as league, cup, or friendly matches
- Home and away venues clearly indicated
I quickly located the Athletic Bilbao match to confirm the date and time.
It was scheduled for two weeks later, at home.
But another issue arose: different websites listed different kickoff times.
Some said 8 PM, others said 9 PM.
Checking the La Liga official website, I discovered the time had been pushed back due to a TV broadcast.
So match times aren’t fixed—they change for broadcasts.
I made my own personal schedule
To avoid this hassle in the future, I decided to compile my own list.
I opened Notepad on my computer, created a new file, and started writing line by line:
| Date | Opponent | Competition | Home/Away | Kickoff Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 5 | Getafe | La Liga | Home | 9:00 PM |
| April 12 | Valladolid | La Liga | Away | 16:15 |
| April 20 | Athletic Bilbao | La Liga | Home | 20:30 (TBD) |
| … | … | … | … | … |
I cross-checked the information from the official website, La Liga’s official site, and two data platforms to ensure every match is accurate.
Especially for the “Athletic Bilbao” game—I double-checked it three times to avoid mixing it up with another team.
After finishing this table, I feel much more at ease.
No more last-minute searches—just open this file to see who we’re playing next.
Some Details I Noticed
While checking the schedule, I also picked up on a few things:
- Some matches aren’t visible at first—you have to scroll down to see them
For example, games two months away aren’t listed on the homepage at all; you have to click “View All” to find them. - Match times can change
Especially if a game gets picked for live broadcast—kickoff might shift from afternoon to evening, or vice versa. - Pay special attention to entries marked with “*” or small icons
These typically indicate “match time to be confirmed” or “subject to rescheduling.” Don’t fully trust the first time you see a schedule. - Cup and league matches can get mixed up
Sometimes Copa del Rey games are sandwiched between league fixtures, and if you’re not careful, you might mistake them for league matches.
My Advice: Don’t Check Last Minute, Prepare Ahead
After this ordeal, I’ve distilled some practical tips:
- Don’t wait until the day before to check—many details are announced weeks in advance.
- Prioritize La Liga’s official website or club sites—these are the most authoritative sources.
- Use one familiar app for centralized viewing, like Dongqiudi or Zhizhibar, which auto-update.
- Make a note of important matches yourself and set phone reminders to avoid missing them.
- Don’t trust screenshots on social media—many share outdated schedules that can be misleading.
Finally, the coffee’s cold, but I figured it out
After nearly half an hour of fiddling, my coffee had long gone cold, but I finally sorted out Espanyol’s upcoming fixtures.
Most crucially, I know when they play Athletic Bilbao—April 20th, home game, around 8:30 PM (exact time may still shift).
Though this seems like just checking a schedule, it really tests your patience.
Too much scattered info, hard to separate fact from fiction—easy to get sidetracked.
But with a methodical approach, step by step, you’ll always find the truth.
Now I’ve saved this notebook file and added a bookmark.
Next time I want to check, I just open it.
No more frantically clicking around like a headless fly, like I did today.
