Barcelona were crowned La Liga champions on Thursday after a 2-0 victory over local rivals Espanyol, with a brilliant strike from Lamine Yamal and a late finish by Fermin Lopez securing their 28th league title.
The win places Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Real Madrid, with only two matches remaining. It also completed a domestic treble for the Catalan giants in a season where only the Champions League trophy eluded them.
Fittingly, just like in 2023, Barca sealed the title at Espanyol’s ground. While last year’s celebrations were disrupted by angry fans storming the pitch, this time the home team attempted to douse the moment by turning on the sprinklers—though the jubilant Barcelona squad quickly made their way off the field.
The breakthrough came in the 53rd minute when 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal unleashed a curling effort from outside the box, reminiscent of his recent goal for Spain against France in the Euro 2024 semi-finals. It marked his eighth goal of the league season and further confirmed his growing reputation as a player for big moments.
Lopez added a second deep into stoppage time to extinguish any remaining hopes Espanyol had of a late fightback. Midfielder Pedri praised the victory, stressing the importance of savoring such accomplishments and acknowledging Espanyol’s resilience.
Outside the stadium, a vehicle incident marred the pre-match atmosphere, injuring several Espanyol fans, though police confirmed it appeared to be accidental and no serious injuries were reported.
Espanyol, currently fighting relegation, showed determination, especially in the first half, with Javi Puado coming close to scoring. But Barcelona eventually asserted control, helped further when Leandro Cabrera was sent off for elbowing Yamal.
Barca’s consistency and attacking flair throughout the season—nearing a hundred goals in the league—proved decisive. Their recent win over Real Madrid in a dramatic 4-3 Clasico effectively put them in command of the title race.
Despite being pelted with bottles during the post-match celebrations, the league’s youngest squad stayed focused and unfazed, completing a title run few had predicted, especially following the high-profile arrival of Kylian Mbappé at Real Madrid.
What you should know
Lamine Yamal, only 17 years old, played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s title-winning campaign, scoring crucial goals in high-stakes matches against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and now Espanyol. His breakout season has been a key highlight in Barca’s triumphant domestic run.
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