CE Europa, bringing identity, passion, and pride back to Gràcia

Barcelona, a city dominated by giant football clubs like FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, is witnessing an unexpected rise in lower league football. CE Europa, a club with over a century of history, has become one of the strongest examples of this phenomenon.

Beyond on-pitch results, the club’s growth is partly thanks to strong social ties in its local community. The neighbourhood of Gràcia, one of the most active in Barcelona, has a very indelible connection with the club, as ‘escapulats,’ Europa fans, are already part of the culture of the area.

To understand the present, we have to look back to the origins of the club. CE Europa was founded in 1907, and became a founding member of the professional Spanish football league, La Liga, in 1929, alongside the likes of Barça, Real Madrid, and Espanyol. 

It is one of the most historic clubs in Catalan and Spanish football, but what makes this club special is its unwavering connection to the community. “This is a family, you feel like part of the club and the neighbourhood,” says Ricard, a Europa supporter. Despite spending decades in the lower divisions, the club has remained true to its identity, distancing itself from corporate-driven football.

In the 1990s, with the globalization of football, the stadiums of neighbourhood clubs started to empty. TV broadcasting of top-level games had a significant impact on how people consumed football. In addition, Barça’s golden years also hogged all the attention in the city, leaving the neighbourhood clubs behind. 

However, this situation has changed in recent years. CE Europa, alongside their biggest rivals UE Sant Andreu, has led the revival of Barcelona’s local football scene.

This resurgence is no coincidence. The globalization of football has pushed many fans away from their clubs, with exorbitant prices and a perceived loss of identity. Many clubs have prioritised financial growth and international commercialization over their traditional supporter base. 

As a result, some fans have become disillusioned with modern football. “Football has become a circus,” says Albert, another Europa fan. In this context, people have returned to the most local football offering on their doorsteps, rediscovering a football club that exists far from the level of commercialization that is so commonly seen among top-level clubs that compete for international titles. 

A fan-owned club, CE Europa represents what modern football has lost; identity, community and values are the fundamentals of this club, something that people appreciate now more than ever. 

The club have seen huge growth in members and supporters at games, especially among young people, who in CE Europa have found something to identify with and take pride in. 

“People mark it in their calendars to come to the Nou Sardenya stadium and cheer on the team,” says Ramon Gatell, a former coach of Europa. The numbers back this up. In 2020, Europa had just 442 club members, while in 2025, the number has soared to 2,830. 

Even though the off-pitch activity makes a difference, this growth would not have been possible without on-field success. At the end of the day, it is still about football. 

Recent years have seen the club take remarkable steps forward in results on the pitch. They won promotion to Segona Federació, the fourth tier of the Spanish football pyramid, in the 2022-23 season, and came very close to achieving back-to-back promotions the following year, falling in the playoffs after a spectacular campaign.

Heading into the current season, expectations were tempered as the team had to refresh after losing some important players in the off-season. The club couldn’t compete economically with other teams in the division, so were forced to bring in new recruits. The coach, Aday Benítez, was also a new addition, providing further question marks about what could be achieved this season. 

Against all predictions, CE Europa is again fighting for promotion, which would bring them to the third tier of Spanish football. Aday has made all the pieces fit together harmoniously and has built a very competitive team.

Europa head into the weekend’s derby clash with Sant Andreu top of the table, but whoever wins that game will end the night in first position. 

It will be a tough race for every team to take the top spot, the only position that secures automatic promotion, but the ‘escapulats’ are ready for the challenge. The neighbourhood of Gràcia has another exciting end of the season to look forward to, with promotion in the sights of all fans.

However, a bigger achievement has already been secured: Europa is making Gràcia proud once again.