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La21 recognised for first team contributions

The club are noted for giving minutes to academy products

Players from the RCD Espanyol youth system playing a very important role in the first team setup under Manolo González, who has not hesitated to give minutes to young players. The coach's confidence and the performance of the players themselves have been decisive in consolidating them in the starting XI.

A recent study by CIES Football Observatory ranks RCD Espanyol as third in LALIGA in terms of the percentage of minutes played by academy products (classed as those in the youth system from 15 to 21 years of age, with a minimum of three seasons between that age range). Los Pericos have a figure of 40.02%, much higher than the league average of 22.24%.

RCD Espanyol are also the team in the Spanish top flight with the fourth lowest average age (25.8, compared to LALIGA's average of 27.14).

Javi Puado, who has been captain in many matches and is top scorer for the team this season; Joan García, the league's breakout goalkeeper; right back Omar El Hilali; fellow defender Pol Lozano; and winger Jofre Carreras, are all frequent starters.

In addition, other La21 products, such as Antoniu Roca, Rafa Bauza and Ángel Fortuño, are regulars in Manolo González's matchday squads.