Lewandowski helps Barcelona decide nineteenth La Liga title, however celebrations are reduce quick as Espanyol followers storm the pitch.
Barcelona are celebrating their first Spanish league title since Lionel Messi left the soccer membership two years in the past amid the membership’s monetary struggles.
The Spanish membership registered a 4-2 victory over Espanyol on Sunday in a match marred by Espanyol followers storming the pitch on the finish of the sport and forcing Barcelona gamers to move for his or her dressing room.
Robert Lewandowski scored twice to steer the Catalan membership to its first league title since 2019. The title was secured with 4 rounds remaining.
The final time Barcelona celebrated a league title with out Messi in its squad was again in 1998-99. He got here into the primary workforce in 2004-05 and gained the title that season.
Celebrations on the sector had been short-lived as gamers needed to rush to the dressing room after a big group of Espanyol followers from the extremely part behind one of many targets began working in the direction of Barcelona gamers singing and celebrating within the centre.
Safety guards rapidly intervened however riot police needed to stand in entrance of the tunnel’s entrance to forestall the followers from entering into. The supporters threw chairs and different objects.
Alejandro Balde and Jules Koundé additionally scored for Barcelona, who now have 27 league titles, eight fewer than Actual Madrid. Third-place Atletico Madrid are 16 factors behind after shedding 1-0 at last-place Elche earlier within the day.
‘Magnificent feeling’
The victory over metropolis rivals Espanyol gave Barcelona an insurmountable 85 factors from 34 matches, 14 factors greater than Madrid, which gained 1-0 at Getafe on Saturday.
Barcelona have led for the reason that thirteenth spherical and have the league’s greatest defence with 13 targets conceded – 14 higher than some other membership. In addition they have 25 clear sheets.
“It’s an impressive feeling, a sense of job nicely performed,” Barcelona coach Xavi mentioned. “That is necessary to provide the membership’s venture some stability. The league title reveals that issues have been performed the best approach and that we now have to remain on this path.”
Xavi + Barcelona = 🏆 pic.twitter.com/cEOHOOtAfc
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) Might 14, 2023
Barcelona gained eight league titles in 11 seasons by means of 2019. They completed second to Madrid in 2020, then third – behind Madrid and champions Atletico – in 2021. They had been second to Madrid final season.
Barcelona’s first title with out Messi got here within the Spanish Tremendous Cup in January.
The membership had been but to win a serious trophy since President Joan Laporta took motion to restructure their debt and revamp the squad with gamers like Lewandowski, Jules Koundé and Raphinha. Laporta celebrated with the gamers within the dressing room.
Lewandowski opened the scoring on Sunday from shut vary within the eleventh minute after a cross by Alejandro Balde. The 19-year-old left again added to the lead 9 minutes later off a cross by Pedri, scoring his first league aim with the membership.
Lewandowski, the league’s main scorer with 21 targets, added his second within the fortieth after a low cross by Raphinha in a breakaway. Koundé scored the fourth within the 53rd with a header after an extended cross by Frenkie de Jong. It was additionally his first league aim with the membership.
The title is ours. pic.twitter.com/Ft4kUBhlMW
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) Might 15, 2023
Busquets’s candy goodbye
The win can be an emotional event for captain Sergio Busquets, who final week introduced that he can be leaving Barca after 15 years on the finish of the season.
It was the midfielder’s ninth LaLiga title and thirty second general with the membership, together with his trophy cupboard additionally together with three Champions Leagues, seven Copa del Rey and three FIFA Membership World Cups, in addition to his 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship success with Spain.
“I’m delighted, I feel we had a spectacular marketing campaign and clinched it right this moment with a fantastic win,” Busquets instructed Movistar Plus.
“We’re a stable workforce, a well-oiled squad with an impressive defence and that’s how champions are constructed.
“I’m happy with what we did all the season, being stable and common, profitable the video games we must always and never dropping factors. It was a exceptional season and I’m so completely satisfied to finish my historical past right here this manner.”
Replace Full. pic.twitter.com/G2l1A8mVPr
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) Might 14, 2023
Espanyol’s survival hopes dashed
The loss dealt a giant blow to Espanyol of their combat in opposition to relegation. They stayed second-to-last, 4 factors from security.
Espanyol had gained solely as soon as of their final 10 league matches, with a draw and eight losses. They had been relegated in 2020 for the primary time in practically three many years, returning to the highest flight of their first try as second-division champions.
Javi Puado scored Espanyol’s first aim within the 73rd and Joselu added the second in stoppage time as Barcelona gamers had been on the brink of have a good time.