Pipa (footballer)
Gonzalo Ávila Gordón, commonly known as Pipa, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol as a right back.Club career
Born in Esparraguera, Barcelona, Catalonia, Pipa finished his formation with RCD Espanyol, after previous stints at CF Damm and FS Esparraguera. He made his senior debut with the reserves on 20 February 2016, starting in a 0–1 Segunda División B away loss against Valencia CF Mestalla.
Pipa was a regular starter for the B-side during the 2016–17 season, which ended in relegation. On 22 May 2017 he renewed his contract until 2022, and scored his first senior goal on 27 August by netting the last in a 3–0 home win against FC Ascó for the Tercera División championship.
On 28 May 2018, Pipa was definitely promoted to the main squad in La Liga ahead of the 2018–19 campaign. The following 2 January, after failing to appear in a single match for the Pericos, he was loaned to Segunda División strugglers Gimnàstic de Tarragona until June.
Pipa made his professional debut on 6 January 2019, starting as a right winger in a 1–0 home win against Córdoba CF. He was a regular starter for the club during his six-month spell, suffering team relegation.
Upon returning to Espanyol, Pipa was handed the number 2 jersey, and made his first team debut on 15 August 2019, starting in a 3–0 home defeat of FC Luzern in the UEFA Europa League. He made his top tier debut on 26 September, replacing Wu Lei in a 1–1 away draw against RC Celta de Vigo.
