Chinese-owned Espanyol dropped out of La Liga

It was already a likely scenario. With four games remaining, Chinese-owned Espanyol were rock bottom, 11 points from safety. Even a win at the Camp Nou would therefore have only delayed the inevitable.

Los Periquitos (The Budgerigars) have not beaten Barcelona in La Liga since 2009, when Mauricio Pochettino was coach.

It is too much to bear for fans, with the Federation of Espanyol Supporters' Clubs this week issuing a statement to express their dismay at what has happened under the current ownership.

China's Rastar Group, which specialises in model cars, paid €60 million ($67.7 million) for 54% of the club's shares in January 2016. They now own almost 100%.