Barcelona La Liga Champions
Barcelona sealed their 28th La Liga title on Thursday night with a 2-0 victory over city rivals Espanyol, capping off a thrilling domestic season under German manager Hansi Flick. With two games to spare, the Catalan giants moved seven points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, rendering their rivals’ chase mathematically impossible. The win also secured a domestic treble, following earlier triumphs in the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
It was 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal who lit up the tense derby, curling a spectacular shot into the top corner in the 53rd minute. The goal – reminiscent of his strike against France in the Euro 2024 semifinals – underlined his ability to rise on the biggest stages. Fermin Lopez added the second deep into stoppage time, wrapping up the title with flair and confidence.
Barcelona, who had clinched the league at the same venue back in 2023, were met this time with a somewhat less hostile reaction. Instead of a pitch invasion, Espanyol officials turned on the sprinklers to hurry the celebrations off the field. Earlier in the evening, a minor scare occurred when a car hit a crowd of Espanyol fans outside the stadium, but no serious injuries were reported.
The win capped a remarkable campaign for Flick, who took over from Xavi Hernandez last summer after a disappointing, trophyless season. Once dismissed as Germany’s national coach following poor form, Flick has now guided Barcelona through a transformation that has restored attacking identity and mental steel to the side.
Despite early setbacks in the league and turbulence behind the scenes, Flick’s Barcelona stormed back with a near-perfect second half of the season. Central to their success were two key league victories over Real Madrid – a 4-0 thrashing at the Bernabéu and a sensational 4-3 win in last week’s El Clasico. Their ability to win high-pressure matches, particularly with comeback performances, became the team’s hallmark.
Yamal, along with Raphinha, Pedri and Ferran Torres, has been crucial to this transformation. While Robert Lewandowski topped the scoring charts with 25 goals, it was Yamal’s pace and creativity on the flanks that brought a new dimension to Barcelona’s attack. Flick also revitalised the careers of key veterans including Frenkie de Jong and Jules Koundé, while constructing a robust defence anchored by Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez.
Pedri, finally enjoying a full season after years of injury, shone as the midfield engine, delivering consistent performances and unlocking defences with ease. The squad’s belief and cohesion were evident in the way they embraced Flick’s demanding training regime and high-octane style.
Barcelona’s domestic dominance was further illustrated by their 95 league goals – 23 more than Real Madrid – and a total of 169 across all competitions. However, the dream of a European treble was dashed by Inter Milan, who edged them out in an epic 7-6 Champions League semi-final clash. Still, their journey to that stage, scoring 43 goals in 14 matches, reignited memories of the club’s most free-flowing eras.
Reflecting on the campaign, Flick praised the squad’s mental strength. “At Barça, you must win titles. Winning three in one season is something special,” he said. “The Super Cup win in January gave us the belief, and from there, the players kept growing.”
