By defeating Espanyol with a score of 4-2 on Sunday, Barcelona retook the top spot in La Liga from their archrivals Real Madrid and won the league for the first time since 2019.
Scenes became nasty at full time when ecstatic Barcelona players were forced off the field by pitch invaders after the Catalan giants won their 27th Spanish title at the home of their neighbors. The game was played in Barcelona.
Robert Lewandowski scored twice for Barcelona, with further goals coming from Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde. Javi Puado and Joselu scored late goals for the home team to get within one goal of the visitors.
In recent years, Barcelona has gone through a difficult stretch both on and off the field. However, their current victory represents a big turnaround, since it is the first major trophy that coach Xavi Hernandez has won since he took over the team in November 2021.
Given the precarious state of the club’s finances during the previous summer, many people were critical of President Joan Laporta’s decision to rebuild.
The club’s early exit from the Champions League was a setback, but they bounced back to win the Spanish Super Cup in January and then wrapped up the La Liga title with four games to spare.
“It’s a magnificent feeling, (of) work well done,” Xavi said in an interview with Movistar.
“A laborious and selfless effort spanning ten months. The supporters and the club are deserving of it, and it provides us with consistency and the assurance that things are being carried out well.
“With a fantastic game, we clinched La Liga, and we played exceptionally well.”
Xavi did not take anyone by surprise with his starting lineup, and Barcelona’s first team came to the field with one goal clearly in mind, with the finish line now in sight.
They created an explosive effort, one of their greatest this season, to win their victory, which dropped their local rivals to 19th place, four points away from safety with four matches yet to play.
After 11 minutes of play, Barcelona finally broke the deadlock thanks to a well-worked goal that was finished off by Lewandowski for his 20th goal of the season in La Liga.
Ronald Araujo made a long pass that was almost perfect for left-back Balde. Balde then raced past Espanyol defender Oscar Gil and crossed the ball for Robert Lewandowski, who scored from close range.
Gil was once again defeated by Balde for the second goal, which was this time scored by the youthful left-back after Pedri raced to the byline and scooped an enticing cross to the back post. Gil was unable to prevent the goal.
It was Balde’s first goal for Barcelona, capping off an outstanding breakthrough season for the teenager, who has replaced the experienced defender Jordi Alba in the starting lineup.
As Barcelona continued to press forward, Espanyol goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco made a diving save to deny a shot from Robert Lewandowski. The home team was doing their best to avoid being overrun.
It was successful for a while, but the away team scored the third goal just before halftime when Raphinha set up Lewandowski with a goal-scoring opportunity by serving the ball to him.
The Catalans have been repaid for their investment in the Polish forward’s transfer from Bayern Munich by an increase in goals scored, despite the fact that the striker’s production has waned in the second half of the season.
During stoppage time at the end of the first period, former teammate Martin Braithwaite attempted to score a goal from close range, but Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen produced a spectacular save to save the goal.
Kounde scored the fourth goal early in the second half after receiving a wonderful chipped ball from Frenkie de Jong. This goal came as Espanyol’s defense continued to fall apart.
Some supporters of Espanyol left the stadium early, while others chanted for the club’s board of directors to step down. One particularly offensive chant was directed at the club’s Chinese owners.
Ter Stegen made a save when Puado was all alone in front of the net because he was desperate to tie the La Liga record for most clean sheets in a season with 26 in the premier division.
However, only a few seconds later, the Espanyol striker found himself through on goal once more, and this time he scored with a fantastic lob. However, this was just a tiny consolation for Espanyol in light of Barcelona’s victory.
In the dying seconds of the game, Joselu scored another goal to cut the deficit, but it was too little, too late.
At the final whistle, Xavi’s team celebrated, much to the displeasure of the Espanyol supporters who had flooded the field. Barcelona players ran down the tunnel to get away from the situation.
“The celebration is normal, but I know we’re not at home, and we can’t lack respect,” Xavi continued. “It’s important to remember that.”
“I am aware that it is difficult to control, but I advised them that the most prudent thing to do at this time would be to go inside.”