Raúl Baena
Encyclopedia
José Raúl Baena Urdiales (born 2 March 1989 in Torrox
, Málaga) is a Spanish
professional footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol
as a defensive midfielder.
and later coming through the FC Barcelona
's youth ranks, Baena switched to neighbours
RCD Espanyol
in 2007, at the age of 18. He made his debuts with its first team on 4 October 2009, in a game against Villarreal CF
, playing the second half as his ten-man side eventually held off the hosts to a 0–0 draw.
Baena quickly became an integral part of the first team, alternating starts with appearances from the bench in his debut season
; on 12 December, his penalty
offense on FC Barcelona
's Xavi
supposed the game's only goal, in a derby
defeat.
Torrox
Torrox is a municipality in the province of Málaga in Andalusia, southern Spain.It is frequented especially by German and British tourists. The city itself is divided into two sections: Torrox Costa on the sea and Torrox Pueblo, 4 km inland. Torrox is located in close proximity to Nerja. It has...
, Málaga) is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
professional footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
as a defensive midfielder.
Football career
After starting his footballing career at local Málaga CFMálaga CF
Málaga Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Málaga, Andalusia. The team currently plays in Spain's La Liga.Málaga CF is generally seen as the successor to CD Málaga, one of the most historical Andalusian football clubs, by being a near-identical looking football club that even shares...
and later coming through the FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
's youth ranks, Baena switched to neighbours
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
in 2007, at the age of 18. He made his debuts with its first team on 4 October 2009, in a game against Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
, playing the second half as his ten-man side eventually held off the hosts to a 0–0 draw.
Baena quickly became an integral part of the first team, alternating starts with appearances from the bench in his debut season
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
; on 12 December, his penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
offense on FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
's Xavi
Xavi
Xavier Hernández i Creus , commonly known as Xavi Hernández or simply Xavi , is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club FC Barcelona, where he has spent his entire 14-year career....
supposed the game's only goal, in a derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
defeat.